Green Pastures

We have a loved one who, after suffering a crushing disappointment, took his own life. How many times “if onlys” have played in my mind. If only I had been able to talk to him about my own personal disappointments that eventually segued into blessings from God. But the stark truth is that no matter how much I long to rewind our lives to a time before the tragedy, it can’t be done. So … I will play part of my “if only” repertoire for you …

Verse two of the iconic Psalm 23 reads, “he leadeth me in green pastures.” Not “pasture” singular, but “pastures” plural.

The meaning of the descriptor “green” is self explanatory. A pasture that is green  contains all the good nutrition a sheep could ever want or need. A green pasture, then, symbolizes God’s abundance for His flock. But what is the significance of the plural “pastures”?

Plural, of course, means more than one. The shepherd is aware that as the sheep graze, the nutritious delectable plants are razed. Once worn down to the nub, there is no more abundance of good food. So, good shepherd that he is, off he leads his merry flock like a modern day Mary with her little lamb, to a new place, a new meadow abounding with good grub. One pasture is simply not enough. The shepherd knows his sheep will need more and newer pastures. And he, ever faithful, carefully takes them there.

This life is a constant mixture of good and bad. There are times when the abundance on which we have been grazing gets whittled down by the affairs of life. The verdant green pasture that had once sustained us begins to resemble a barren wasteland. The Good Shepherd knows this. The Good Shepherd has prepared for this. And the Good Shepherd has the perfect place farther down the road that will suit his flock just right. All they have to do is trust—and follow.

Allow me to share a real life example of pasture gone bad and how the Good Shepherd faithfully led His sheep to another beautiful pasture. True story.

Heeding the call of God on his life, a certain young man enrolled in Bible school. With this, Part One of his preparation for the ministry was put in play. Part Two: look for the helpmeet God would give him to help him fulfill this call.

As he looked around, his eyes alighted on a young lady in his church's youth group. Hmm … she loved the Lord, she played the piano … What qualifications could be better? Holding his desires close to his vest, though, he waited for the opportune time in which to approach said young lady and help her realize how she would be the perfect fit for him and his ministry.

Then came The Day. The day she walked into the youth group holding hands with one of his best friends, a great big diamond rock on her finger. The young man staggered back figuratively. How could this be? He felt as if God had given him a one-two punch in his solar plexus. Covering his dismay as best he could, he offered the new couple perfunctory congratulations and went home to wrestle with God.

How could God have done this to him? Didn’t He know what a great minister’s wife that young lady would have been ? Now who could he marry?

Silence. No answer from the Good Shepherd. All the young man could see was barren wasteland. Green pasture worn down to the nubs.

Fortunately, even though the young man was devastated by the painful loss of a romance that never even got off the ground, he knew enough to trust the Good Shepherd as he walked this confusing path, a path that made no sense. A few months down the road it did.

Finally caving to the call he felt towards missionary work, he moved south and, in preparation to minister in the country to which he felt called, began to study at a language school there. Wouldn't you know it? This, his obedience to the call of God, led him to a new, better pasture (romance-wise) than the one that had left him high and dry.

It so happened that one of the school’s requirements was to preach once a week south of the border. Since he was just beginning his language studies, this required the use of an interpreter. One thing led to another and, in the fullness of time, his interpreter became his wife. She didn’t play the piano but she did have her own call to ministry and was pretty handy with interpretation and teaching children. When he obeyed God's direction, then the fruition of Part Two in the young man's steps towards his call come to pass. A verdant green pasture provided by none other than God.

Has your pasture worn down to brown nubs? Never fear! The Good Shepherd is near! Hang in there and before you know it you’ll be reveling in sumptuous new, green grass. The glorious abundance will come!

Doyle Landon’s song “Help Is on the Way” puts it this way:

“Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way,

A brighter day is coming,

for those who believe and pray,

Help won’t help tomorrow, if you give up today,

Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way.”

“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness,” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass,” (Psalm 37:4-5).