The Farmer
Psalms 119:76 Now comfort me with your faithful love, as you promised.
What pressures are you facing at the moment? What’s eating away at you, deep inside? Just think about that for a moment, because there’s always something. And now, let me ask you, what would you change if you could, to give yourself a sense of peace?
I recently had the opportunity to visit a friend – he’s a farmer. I was heading up his way, so I decided to drop in and say, “Hi”.
Now I live in a busy, smoggy city. Yet on this farm, it was like a different world. Acres of tall, lush sugar cane, a warm gentle breeze blowing, it was truly idyllic.
But as we sat there at his kitchen table, chatting over a cup of tea, what I heard is that he had all the pressures and concerns – the very same ones – that those people in my bustling city had. His surroundings were different, they appeared much more peaceful, but in his heart, the issues; the pressures; the concerns; were exactly the same.
Sometimes, we think that if we could change this or that, or leave this place and move over there – everything would be instantly better. We’re just kidding ourselves, because peace and joy aren’t things that we acquire from our environment or our circumstances. In fact, quite the opposite, this world has this habit of robbing us constantly of our peace and joy.
No, peace and joy come from somewhere else entirely. This is how the Psalmist puts it, in his prayer to God:
Now comfort me with your faithful love, as you promised. (Psalms 119:76)
If you read the rest of the Psalm, you discover that this man was under a lot of pressure. In fact, with the enemies that surrounded him and assailed him, he was actually in fear for his very life.
But he knew that in the middle of this turmoil, in the middle of a world that would rob him of everything, even life itself, peace and joy come from God.
And it’s funny, because without even going to that Scripture, this farmer who I was visiting told me exactly the same thing. He told me how in the darkest hour of his life, he came to realise how great God’s love for him really was.
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, peace and joy come from God.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond