Not too long ago, I wrote a post about how my cat, Lovey, shows my family what abiding does and doesn’t look like.
Among Lovey’s many desirable cat qualities, He enjoys taking walks in the woods with me and my dog, Shadow. It’s difficult to make great progress when Lovey comes along for the walk. He can’t help but flop down and roll over on his back every ten feet or so for a belly rub. I can’t help but bend over to rub his plush, chubby belly. I noticed recently how he chooses the green patches of moss to flop onto. It’s pre-spring here and we’re noticing every bit of lush, green, and pale, pastel colors that we pass. It’s like finding water in the desert for our winter-eyes trained only to see browns and grays. We’re thirsty for color.
This past week, my family has enjoyed buds and flowers blooming on trees, but when I took these pictures a few weeks ago, the only greens we saw on our walk were patches of moss scattered along our path.
On his walks, Lovey travels from one patch of greenery to the next, lays down, and waits for the love. For him, it’s likely not the color green he is thirsty for, but for the comfort of the softest flooring the woods can offer. He can hardly wait to get to the next patch of soft, colorful carpet. This made me think of God’s grace that carries us moment by moment.
Each life circumstance, whether considered a blessing or a great challenge, beckons us to remember God’s comfort and beauty. If a blessing, we are grateful. If a challenge, we see more clearly our need for Him.
Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
Sometimes I need to remind myself of what Jesus meant by “never thirst” in that passage. I think John Piper said it well here:
“And he means soul thirst, heart thirst. Which means that believing is an eating or drinking of the beauties and glories and truth and wisdom and love and goodness and justice of Christ so that the soul is satisfied. Whoever believes in me will not thirst. Believing means coming to him and drinking so that our soul thirst is satisfied. So, faith in future grace means trusting in all that God promises to be for us in Jesus Christ in any one of his promises.”
-John Piper
I think what Lovey does is he walks from one tiny, green pasture to another, fully expecting someone to be unable to resist his cuteness and bend over to appease him. I can tell, sometimes he can hardly wait. He gets up from a bright green pad of moss and can hardly wait until the next. He stumbles along, barely able to keep from flopping again almost immediately after picking himself up as if he’s addicted to the love He receives.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1-4 ESV
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Likewise, I want to be that way with the Lord. I don’t want to go from one life circumstance to another without receiving the goodness of remembering God’s grace in Christ, what is true of Him, and who I am in Him. May there be fewer and fewer steps between circumstances before I bring myself low before Him whether it be out of gratefulness for His blessings or out of my need to receive the love, care, and comfort that He is always willing and desiring to so generously give.
Let’s believe our Good Shepherd’s grace and truth moment by moment as we walk the path of life.
How do you remember to turn to God moment by moment?
One way I am remembering to turn to God moment by moment is through the grace of the biblical process of lament. If you’d like an easy acronym to remember along with all the steps of lament, sign up for my Encouragements To Turn Toward Grace monthly e-mail and receive a free printable along with other helpful freebies.
