Have you ever had those days were you just feel a little unsettled? Maybe it's caused by a bunch of small worries quietly piling up, or maybe it's one big worry that keeps you up at night. I tend to get the worried feeling before I understand what's actually worrying me (so frustrating).
Recently, in my bible study, Lord I Want to know you, I did the chapter called 'The Lord is Peace". Fitting, eh? I want to share one study scripture that really stuck out to me:
Leviticus 26:2-6 NIV
'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
" 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
" 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.
I had to read this twice to really get the impact of what was being said here. This passage is set up in an "if-then" format where God says if you do "X" then I will do "Y". Here is a little information on the farming schedule for the Israelites.
The rain is necessary in order to soften the ground enough to plow it from mid-October on. Then the grain harvest would be finished by early-middle of June, then 2 months of threshing the grain, and then the grape harvest would follow after that. Here God promises the children of Israel what they need for abundant food if they follow His commands.
To be honest, I think this "feeling" is associated with me being impatient about doing more with ministry. This passage really spoke to my heart about God's timing. The rain is necessary to soften the ground. There are places in my heart where the circumstances of life fell on my heart and caused it to soften under God's hand. He is plowing my heart and planting seeds of mercy, patience, discipline, love, etc. in these years of raising a family. One day, Harvest will come, in may ways I believe. Whether it is seeing my children develop their own relationship with God, or seeing a dream come to pass. But even after this comes to pass, there is still work after that... and harvest after that.
My point is that I found some comfort and peace knowing that in God's timing He will do the work that is needed, provide what is needed so the harvest will occur. In addition, He said he will grant peace in the land, protection and no fear...when we follow His commands.
I hope that when you have those unsettling days that you remember this promise and trust that His timing is best as he prepares us for the Harvest.
God Bless you.
