A Prayer When You Need God to Lead You to Rest
By Rachel Wojo
Bible Reading:
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." - Psalm 23:1-3
Listen or Read Below:
I knew something had to change when I found myself snapping at my husband over something that now seems silly. Again. We'd been in one of those seasons that looks impressive from the outside. Maybe you’ve been there. Kids' sports schedules are packed, working additional hours, church commitments, and all the daily demands that make life feel like you're running a never-ending relay race. I was checking all the boxes, meeting every deadline, and keeping everyone's schedules straight, but my soul felt empty.
The truth hit me that evening as I apologized for being short-tempered: when I'm not living, leading, or loving from a place of rest, everyone around me feels it. My family gets the frazzled, exhausted version of me instead of the woman God created me to be. I was so busy glorifying busyness that I'd forgotten I was made to glorify God.
In tears that evening, I opened to Psalm 23 before heading to bed. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." I used to think this was about God forcing us to slow down through illness or circumstances, but I've learned something different. God isn't dragging us kicking and screaming to rest. He's inviting us to enjoy the peace and restoration He offers.
The Hebrew word for "makes" here is more like "causes" or "enables." It's the picture of a shepherd who knows exactly what his sheep need and gently guides them to the best pasture. God sees when we're running on empty, when we're snapping at the people we love, or when we're too tired to think clearly. And in His love, He provides green pastures that are places of nourishment and peace.
For me, lying down in green pastures meant something beautifully simple: reclaiming the first hour of my day. Instead of rushing through a manufactured “quiet time,” rolling out of bed and immediately checking my phone or mentally running through my endless to-do list, I started drinking my coffee slowly. I slowed down in my prayer time and savored my Bible reading. That quiet hour became my green pasture and I’ve found it to be the place where God could restore my soul before the chaos of the day began.
Once I started to learn to depend on God, then I realized that rest isn't the reward we get after we've checked everything off our list. Rest is the foundation we're meant to build our lives on. When we try to pour from an empty cup, everyone gets shortchanged. But when we let God lead us beside those quiet waters, when we allow Him to refresh our souls, we have something real to offer the world.
The green pastures aren't a luxury we can't afford; they're a necessity we can't live without. God isn't withholding rest until we prove we deserve it. He's already prepared the place of peace. The question is: will we trust Him enough to let Him lead us there?
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I confess that I've been running on empty, trying to keep up with the demands of life without taking time to let You restore my soul. I've glorified busyness and convinced myself that rest is selfish or lazy, but I see now that when I don't live from a place of rest, everyone around me suffers. And I do too.
Thank You for being the Good Shepherd who sees exactly what I need. You're not waiting for me to collapse before You offer rest. You're gently inviting me to lie down in the green pastures You've already prepared for me.
Lord, when the world tells me that productivity equals worth, remind me that You value my being, not just my doing. Help me to live, lead, and love from a place of rest in You.
Thank You that Your invitation to rest isn't based on my performance but on Your love. Help me accept this gift today.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you for joining me today. I pray this reminder about God's invitation to rest has spoken to any weary places in your heart.
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If you're looking for more guidance on anchoring your heart in God's faithful promises, I invite you to check out my new prayer journal, Praying the Promises of God: 52 Week Guided Journal at https://promisesprayerjournal.com. In this journal, you'll find space to meditate on the promises that can transform how you approach rest and help you experience God's peace in tangible ways. Until next time, remember, God sees you, hears you, and He knows your needs.
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