Green Pastures

So I’m writing this first post from Fernley, Nevada, a little town that one of the residents told us is on track to be the fasting growing city in the US, though you wouldn't know that from its Mad Max wasteland feel. You see, our RV broke down on the first day of our adventure, the transmission had a disagreement with the engine and I guess was frustrated to be working again after it had gotten used to the lazy life of being a home for someone. So it decided to quit. Actually, as we stood on the side of the road and watched the red sticky blood like fluid pour from its veins, it decided to die. So a huge setback on day number one. Or, we wondered, is it?

Here is the definition of adventure, “a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.” When we named our RV “Green Pastures” we had certain expectations. I must confess I pictured a season of smooth sailing, difficulty held at bay, the kids running through a tall grass field in slow motion holding hands. I thought we might get a reprieve from the scorching trials that tend to whither the soul and prune the heart. I wondered if the pain in my head would get a divine message from the Boss that it was fired and to clean out its desk and escorted off the property. So I imagined in the absence of difficulty our souls and bodies would be restored. But my Jesus had a different plan for this season and something greater to teach our family.

I will never forget the first time I read Pilgrims Progress as a kid. At one point on the journey to the Celestial City, Christian comes to the Hill Difficulty, it is a terribly difficult climb and it gets steeper and more treacherous the further he goes on. He is exhausted, tired, discouraged and wants to give up. I remember thinking, press through, keep going, rest is just on the other side of the hill. But then something fascinating happens, he spots an arbor of rest on the trial side of the Hill Difficulty, set up by the master for weary pilgrims. You see we have found in this season, like that weary pilgrim, that the green pastures come in the middle of the treacherously steep Hill Difficulty and the valley of the Shadow of the grim future fate of us all. The Green Pastures are not the cessation of difficult circumstances, but an arbor of respite in the midst of the climb.

I am reminded of the Story of Jesus asleep on the boat in Mark chapter 4. It had been a long day of ministry, explaining the mysteries of the Kingdom in simple but profound stories. Hearts were liberated from the prisons of darkness and death, sick bodies shed the curse of Adam at the touch and word of Him who is veiled lightning. As the day came to a close and the sun bowed out of sight behind the hills of Galilee, the clouds yawning across the sky preparing for night. Jesus said to His disciples, lets go to the other side of the lake. As the tax collector and zealot climbed into the boat, perhaps the four seasoned fishermen were a bit apprehensive, they could smell the dampness on the wind that was quickly gaining in strength. But its what Jesus wanted and they weren't alone, they were surrounded by boats full of people who wanted to be where Jesus was. So they set out across the lake in obedience to Jesus and were met by a hurricane force storm…

Wait, don't miss that, it was because they obeyed Jesus that they were led into the storm, Jesus led them into the storm, hmmm…

What a storm their obedience won them, the howling of the wind only beaten by the rhythmic raging of the thunder. The fingers of the sea stretched upward reaching its claws into the boat trying to pull it down into its salivating mouth. They were afraid, they thought they were going to die. You see there was no greater symbol to ancient people of chaos and destruction than the storm, and the storm was winning… wait where is Jesus? What do you mean He is asleep? How can someone sleep during such a storm? I think we miss the point of this story when we say, He slept because He was so exhausted. No, He slept in perfect peace during a deadly hurricane because He knew His Father’s love and care is never exhausted. And this is the lesson He wanted to teach His beloved- that you can rest in His loving care in the middle of the storm, that green pastures are to be found in the middle of the hurricane, that you can trust Him even when He seems asleep for He is Lord of the storm, Master over chaos and destruction. Bending those cosmic forces to do His bidding by a quiet word, “Peace. Be still”.

But now He holds our tear stained cheeks in His nail hollowed hands as the storms of difficulty rage all around and says to the storm of our hearts, Peace. Be still. In His embrace is rest, His voice is the gentle stream, His presence makes an oasis out of the driest desert, and a pillow for our weary heads in the most torrential downpours. Jesus says as much in John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Notice He says we will have trouble, that peace isn't found in the absence of difficulty, but is found in Him the overcomer, the Lord of the storm. I think Peter learns this lesson, in Acts 12, he has been arrested, put in prison and is facing being executed like his fellow Christ follower James. When an angel shows up to break Peter out of prison, what is Peter doing? Is he pacing his cell anxiously wondering what God is doing? No, he is sleeping in perfect peace. In fact he is in such deep rest that the angel has to strike him on his side to wake him up, for that night Peter laid his head on the pillow of loving omnipotence.

So that’s what our family is learning, rest in the face of loss, trust in the midst of pain, peace not based on our circumstances, but in Him who is our peace. And there we are revived and restored. How do we do this? I think in the story in Mark 4 Jesus gives us the way. He says to the disciples after He calms the storm “Where is your faith?” Not you don't have enough faith or you have to believe harder, but take what you know of Me and bring it to bear on your circumstances, get it out and use it, think about the gospel and drive it deep into your heart. Oh what a treasure trove of truth we have in the gospel! That we deserved the hurricane storm of Gods righteous wrath, but our Savior loved us so desperately that the Lord of the storm went down into the storm and was drowned under the seas of judgment for our sins. He experienced the cosmic unrest we deserved so that He could lovingly say to our troubled hearts, “Peace be still”.

So as I think upon the good news that tells me that Jesus took the only storm that could really destroy me, now I can rest in all the other storms in life confident that Jesus will see me to the other side and to the shores of the Celestial City. And in the process, my fear of the storm, like the disciples’, is transformed into awe and wonder at the grace of God. And that fear, the fear of the Lord, swallows up all other fear and turns it into joy and worship. How else would they know the power and wonder of the Almighty unless their Good Shepherd led them into the storm? We have been humbled by the love and encouragement and the outpouring of support from fellow pilgrims. Thank you, and we thank Jesus because we wouldn't have known this encouragement unless He led us into the storm.

One last thought on this lengthy post. Notice how the disciples come to Jesus. They wake Him up and say don't you care, are you going to let us die? Its a bad prayer as far as prayers go and yet Jesus responds with complete grace. God knows how hard the storms are for us, how often we are filled with doubt, how often we question Gods character. But coming messy to Jesus is faith enough. So if you find yourself in a storm, don't hesitate, don't delay, just come to the God of all comfort and give Him your messiness and your fear and then rest in Him, in the green pastures He has prepared for you. So it’s not pressing through, but pressing into Jesus where true rest is found. 

So the adventure continues… Day two here we come!

- Josh