I often used this phrase “underneath it all” to describe how my soul was doing in early counseling years. Above the surface I had a new baby to take care of, a husband busy at work and family wanting to help but separated by 300 miles. On the surface I was hanging on. But, I was a complete mess. My heart was in the depths of depression. I am blessed to have survived those years. “Underneath it all” I had a stirring of hope. A knowing that their was a faithful God that would restore purpose and promise. That glimmer of hope was all I had – yet all I needed.
On my last post I wrote about a book called “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23″ by Keller. This paragraph struck me the most:
“Wool in Scripture speaks of the self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride. God has to get below this and do a deep work in our wills to right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface. So often we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied.”
Last time we looked at the first phrase. Today we’ll tackle the second.
- God has to get below this [wool of self-life, self-will, self-assertion, self-pride] and do a deep work in our wills…
- right the wrongs which are often bothering us beneath the surface
- …we put on a fine front and brave, bold exterior
- when really deep down below there needs to be some remedy applied
I find it interesting that the author attributes the job of righting our personal wrongs to God. Shouldn’t it be the sinner that takes care of his own sin?
Keller says, “He [God] will get below the surface, behind the front of our old self-life and expose the things that need to be made right.”
How many of us put up a good face just to make it through the day? How many masks do you wear within a given week? Do you ever let anyone in to see the hurt, the soul pain, and allow the tears to flow?
God knows we aren’t so good at being real on our own. So here in Psalm 23 He uses the example of a kind shepherd taking his rod and opening the fleece of each sheep. Keller says “he [the shepherd] runs his skillful hands over the body; he feels for any sign of trouble; he examines the sheep with care to see that all is well.”
Psalm 139 says:
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
When was the last time you allowed time for God to search your heart? Sitting in a quiet chair for just a few moments might be on your to-do list today. Instead of talking to God, be quiet, be still, and listen.
Need some encouragement? Listen to “Know My Heart” by Sara Groves
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