When Your "Get Up and Go" Got Up and Went Without You

David was not fearless in his pursuit of following God. He faced enemies who wanted to “swallow him up.” But when he was afraid, he knew to trust God for safety: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. . . In God have I put my trust” (Psalm 56:3, 4b). Neither was the “man after God’s own heart” tireless, yet knew to find rest and rejuvenation in the One who led him and cared for all his needs: “The Lord is my the Shepherd, I shall not want. . . “ (Psalm 23).

Believers and followers of the Lord Jesus have the same assurances as the shepherd boy and king who loved and served the only true God. The Lord gathers us under His wings when we are afraid (Ps 17:8); He renews our strength when we trust Him (Isa 40:39). And Jesus offers rest to the burdened: “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28–30). The key is to trust the Lord, our Shepherd, confidently.