Pasture Land

Farm animals grazing in a pasture

“And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good (NIV).” Genesis 1:24-25

There is something about cattle,

Grazing in pastureland,

That has a peaceful,

Almost serene feeling.

And here, 

With wildflowers decorating the scene,

This hillside seemed especially so.

What gives you this feeling?

Is God guiding you to pastures green?

Do you sense His presence,

When hills and valleys, 

Paint your life scene?

Can you find stillness;

Can you just bow or patiently wait?

Does peace envelop your spirit,

Even, should your heart ache? 

Blue/green kaleidoscope image

Somehow to my soul, there seemed a lesson in the lowly, simple cattle on this hill. I loved capturing the wildflowers in bloom as the sun shone upon the entire scene. Here they were, grazing calmly. They were content just to have their needs met in such a beautiful setting.

But sometimes, our setting is unsettling. Sometimes the pastures that the Lord leads us into are not ideal, and we must still find contentment and some semblance of serenity. How do we do that? By declaring Him as the Son and the shield around us; by asking for peace that only His Spirit can provide; by trusting that if He is bringing us to the valley that He will also bring us through it.

God’s grace and mercy are designed to be our companions in these rocky, grassy, and hilly places. But we must often draw upon His strength for these stretches when they come upon us. And they do, come into everyone’s life. Mountaintops, wildflowers, and valleys are just part of the journey. And how content we learn to be in each of these, and how much we trust God in each one, often, has something to do with how we perceive them, what we learn from them, or how God can use them in our lives.

Will you be like the cattle,

Enjoying what they have,

In the pasture green?

Will you be content there,

Looking for the ways that,

God will make His presence seen?

Or will you hold onto bitterness,

That will harden your soul?

Give it to Jesus,

Let love take control.

We get through the valley and into the pastures green—to experience the comfort of God—by turning toward His Son and the beauty that surrounds us in His love.

“The Lord will send rain to water the seeds you have planted—your fields will produce more crops than you need, and your cattle will graze in open pastures (CEV).” Isaiah 30:23

brown and orange kaleidoscope image

“Surely the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of the field play there (NKJV).” Job 40:20

Has God led you through a valley to deliver you into pastureland? Has He taken a less-than-ideal circumstance to teach you to be content?

“Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord (NLT).” Psalm 36:6

"Pasture Land" is an excerpt from the Let Everything that has Life ... Praise Devotional. The entire devotional is available as a free ebook Here.

by: deborah goshorn-stenger 2 Pause and Praise Creations ©