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One day this week as I was walking. It was unseasonably warm but comfortable. The sight of this rice ditch leading from a nearby river caught my eye. It was a cloudy morning and the dawn’s light was diffused to bring a rose gold hue over the atmosphere. The stillness of the water belied the turmoil of the weather predicted for the next few days, the raging pandemic, the embattled politics, the uncertainty of a data breach in the workplace or the multitude of thoughts rolling around in my head. When I looked over and saw this scene, the Spirit reminded me of Psalm 23:2b, “He leadeth me beside the still waters”.

Psalm 23 is a go-to favorite for Christians. It provides so much comfort, assurance and strength for so many aspects of our lives — physical needs and weaknesses, spiritual restoration, emotional comfort and courage — but on this particular day it was the still waters that spoke to my soul.

The still waters can be translated as waters of rest, applied to the agricultural context of tending flocks. David, as a shepherd, knew by experience that flocks needed to have a place to drink water free from predatory threats. God knows we need a place to drink from the living waters He provides without threat. Our threats are not always external but many times come from within – minds that don’t shut down, worry, stress, to-do lists and busy-ness. I was in that place starting the day with a personal beat-down moment when as I walked BAM! Still waters.

In that moment of clarity, the Spirit gave clear instructions on a small but necessary activity I was neglecting that brought me to this place of internal beat-down and the Spirit gave clear instructions on how to correct the problem. It doesn’t always take a long time to clear our minds or hear from God; it just requires a moment to be led by still waters.