Chapter 8: Sheltered by Faith: Ep 2: Divine Guidance: Finding Peace as God Leads Us

0:00 Hello, beautiful people. Welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm glad that you're here as we continue our series, Sheltered by Faith. Today, we're exploring one of the most comforting images in scripture, God as our shepherd. The episode is titled, Guided by the Shepherd, God Provisions and Peace. Together, we'll explore how God's guidance leads us through life's valleys, provides for our needs, and gives us peace that sustains us. So let's begin with the key scripture for today. It's found in Psalms 23, verse 4.

0:46 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod, your staff, they comfort me. This verse paints a beautiful picture of God's role as our shepherd. He is with us in the darkest valleys, guiding us with his rod and staff. His rod presents protection, while the staff, excuse me, represents silence. Together, they symbolize God's care, leadership, and every season of life. Think about it. A shepherd's job is to lead the sheep to safety, provide for their needs, and protect them from danger.

1:27 God does the same for us. He knows the path ahead even when we don't. He gently leads us where we need to be. I love that. To think of God as our shepherd, that God cares, that he is our leader. If we allow him to be, he is our leadership in every season. He leads us to safety. He provides for our needs and he protects us from danger. And that's what God does for us. And one thing about a shepherd, he knows the path ahead. And so we don't want to get ahead of God. We want to stay behind where it's safe and allow God to go before us and lead us where we need to be.

2:15 I love that. I love that. Psalms 23 is rich in imagery and provision and peace. Let's take a moment and reflect on these two phrases. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Green pastures symbolizes abundance, rest, and nourishment. God knows when we need to pause, rest, and be refreshed. Sometimes we're so busy running that we forget to let God lead us to these places of peace. Could that be you? Could that be me? A lot of times we get so busy about tasks and getting things done that he really sometimes wants us to just stop and just enjoy the day, enjoy the scenery. Amen.

3:06 So we have to be aware and be alert to when God wants us to just stop and just enjoy the peace, enjoy the surroundings. He leads me beside still waters. There's that other part. You're like me. I like to be busy, busy, busy. So being still is really not what I like to do, but sometimes I'm still, I'm still. And when I'm listening to God, I'm getting more, God's giving me more dreams. I'm getting my devotional time is enriched. And so it's not like I'm always writing devotionals. I don't even know when it's going to be devotional time. I'm not saying, oh, and you're devotional, Lord.

3:49 It's like sometimes I'm just doing what I'm doing. And then he'll say, I'll get a dream or I'll have a powerful time in prayer. And he'll tell me this is a good for a devotional, right? Because he's the author and the finisher of these devotionals. Otherwise, I have too many, right? Everything God says, it'd be a devotional, it'd be a lot. But there's some points, what I'm trying to point out is that when you actually rest and get refreshed, then it's not such busy work. Let's go to Isaiah 26.3. I love this scripture. It says, I say it about every scripture you may notice. But it says, you will keep in perfect peace whose mind are steadfast because they trust in you.

4:34 This verse reminds us that trusting God brings peace that the world cannot give. You know, that's powerful. So it says Isaiah 6, 26, 3, you will keep in perfect peace whose mind are steadfast because they trust in you. So just like a sheep is allowing the shepherd to lead, we as sheep, if we allow the shepherd to lead, we will be able to lie down in green pastures. We will be led by still waters. We will be kept in perfect peace. Remember, God gives us peace that the world cannot give. The world is shaking and quivering, but we have that peace. Why?

5:19 Because our trust is in the God who is unshakable. Amen. So life isn't about green pastures and still waters, right? And all about that. But sometimes we walk through dark valleys. These are seasons of uncertainty, pain, or fear. But here's the good news. We don't walk through these valleys alone. Psalms 27.1, it says, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Whom should I be afraid? Look at that. That's David saying, what? The Lord is my light and salvation. Whom should I fear?

6:00 The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? That's bold talk. God's presence in the valley gives us courage. He doesn't mind. He doesn't promise we won't face hard times, but he does promise to walk with us through them. I love that. God never leaves us or forsake us. We do not have to be afraid because he's with us. Where do we need God's provision? Where do you need God's provision or guidance in your life right now? Think about the valleys you're walking through and invite God to lead you.

6:40 I love that. Invite God to lead you. You know, I've been watching, I know I'm probably late on this, but I've been watching, I love, I don't have any dogs. I don't have time for dogs. Well, I wish I did. I had a couple of dogs when my kids were young, but I've been watching this show Dog Whisperer. And I'm learning a lot about behavior, human behavior by watching dog behavior. And this thing about allowing God to lead really helped me understand that when I get ahead of God, I get real anxious. I get real nervous. And you know how little nervous dogs get, they get real barky. So you're biting off, biting at everybody, you know?

7:22 And so I realized that when I get that way, that I have stepped ahead of God. And so I need to pretty much like get back behind the Lord and let him be the lead pack leader. And then I can sit back and become why I don't have to be the nervous, fretful dog about what's going to happen next, because I'm in a position I'm not supposed to be in. I am not supposed to be the leader. That's why I'm nervous out front. That's why I'm anxious. You ever been that way? You're snapping off heads. You're smart. You're short with people because you're in the way.

8:05 God is supposed to be leaning, and yet you have stepped out in front of him, and that brings out nervous and anxious energy because you're not supposed to be the leader. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. When I step back behind God and allow him to lead. Allow Jesus to be the shepherd of my life, I don't have that nervous energy. When I feel that nervous energy, I was like, okay, Father, I'm sorry. I've stepped out in front of you. I feel anxious and nervous because I'm trying to run ahead and trying to protect myself and do some things that I'm not supposed to be. And so that's not where I'm supposed to be. So I'm learning my position now.

8:47 Because of just my emotional status, right? And I said, that's so good. And I'm just learning that from Dog Whisperer. When you're not the pack leader, you should be up front biting and barking at people. Why? Because you're out of place. And so I'm like, I'm out of place, Lord. Please forgive me. I'm going to step back behind you. How good is that? That's the good news. So how can we actively seek God's guidance and provision? Here are three ways to reconnect with him as our shepherd number one we want to spend time in prayer that's a reconnect that's to get back in your right space with him as your shepherd not you running out ahead but you stepping back you spend time in prayer talk to god about the areas where you need his guidance right lord i need your guidance in this i'm out ahead of you and i know that because I'm anxious and I'm nervous.

9:43 And he, be honest about your fears and your uncertainties and prayer opens the door for his direction. Call on him and I will answer and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know. That's Jeremiah 33.3. Meditate on Psalms 23. Spend time reflecting on each verse. Let the words remind you of God's promise and his care for you. And number three, practice intentional rest. Just as sheep need to lie down in green pastures, we need moments of rest to hear God's voice. Take a quiet walk, sit by a peaceful spot, or simply pause and breathe.

10:28 What are the three points? Spend time in prayer. Meditate on Psalms 23. Practice intentional rest. And, you know, one of my practice intentional rest is with these daylight saving times, it gets dark around here about 530 or so. That's early. And sometimes I would just go to bed. I was just like, you know, it's been a long day. It's 530, you know, put on my pajamas. And if I haven't took a shower, I will go take a shower, put on my pajamas and boom, I'm in the bed and 5.30, I am asleep by 4.45 or 4.15, the alarm is off and I have slept the whole night.

11:09 So I did some intentional rest, especially when I feel anxious or nervous. I just need to go to sleep. Sometimes God gives me a dream. Sometimes I just have peaceful sleep. It's just how God works with me because I just know how to get in my place. Can I get an amen? So as we close out, I want to encourage you that no matter what valley you're walking through, God is your shepherd. He's guiding you, providing for you, and protecting you in every step of the way. Trust in his leadership and you'll find peace and provision you need. I want to say that again, us ladies, us strong ladies out there, trust in his leadership.

11:50 Get out the way. Get out the way. Trust in his leadership. And I'm going to close this out in prayer. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for being our shepherd. You guide us. You protect us. Provide for us, even in the darkest valleys. Help us to trust in your care and to rest in your peace you offer. Lead us beside the still waters and restore us. And Lord God, I ask you that when we get in the way, just kind of tug us back on our little rope and put us back in our place. Lead us beside still waters, Lord God. Teach us how to have intentional rest. Teach us how to walk in faith, knowing that you are always with us.

12:34 And I thank you in Jesus name, amen. I'd like to thank you again for joining me on this episode of Sheltered by Faith. If today's message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of God's guidance and peace. And don't forget to subscribe to Diary of a Black Woman podcast and stay tuned for our next episode. Until next time, remember God is your shepherd and you are never alone. Be blessed.