In Peaceful Presence of God

Before church, I bundled up since it was very chilly, and headed out for a morning walk. There were few people outside. It is probably the coldest morning thus far this season. However, the deer didn’t seem to mind the cold. They were out in droves in an empty field. I feel blessed to see one deer. I saw an entire herd! And one buck with small antlers was standing guard at a neighboring homesite. 

I took some videos and stood quietly watching them. As you can see, they were very close to me. They did not seem terribly worried about me as long as I stood still. I wondered if they knew how much I love all creatures. Could they perhaps sense that? The one to the right in the second photo even approached closer. She seemed curious and friendly.

It was a simple and gentle moment, a blessing. Deer are such kind and unassuming animals. 

Psalm 42:1: As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

The gentle deer quietly grazed and lifted their big dark eyes to watch me as I passed by. They are dependent upon God’s provision of tender grass and shrubs, and the flowing streams. I doubt they spend one moment worrying that God will provide those things. They moved slowly and gracefully on their slender legs, watching me as I watched them, each of us abiding in the peaceful place God had prepared for us.

Our pastor talked about how sometimes life becomes one of daily drudgery, daily struggle. Each day brings more of the same trial. We are working our way through the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s daily struggle was speaking to a people who would not listen. His obedience to God required enormous personal sacrifice, and he was lonely, discouraged, and beginning to lose hope that God can be relied upon. 

IN fact, in Jeremiah 15;18, in contrast to the deer who pant after the flowing stream but KNOW God will provide what they need, Jeremiah cries: Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?"

We have all been there, haven’t we?

God rebukes Jeremiah, and in the following chapter,  promises him that God will restore His people. They must undergo the punishment and consequences of their sin first, but ultimately, they will return to God. 

Jeremiah now proclaims: “Then I said, "Lord, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, 'Our ancestors had nothing but false gods - worthless idols that could not help them at all.” Jeremiah 16:19

He sees beyond the daily struggle to the culmination of God’s plan, and is comforted. He is given a glimpse of future joy.

The deer in the field, completely trusting in God’s provision are one of those glimpses and symbols for me. 

So was this:

My new book went to #2 in one of its genre cateories. That made my day. (I am being a little tongue in cheek about it being a glimpse of God. It is a glimpse of hard work beginning to show small signs of bearing fruit.) If you want to read the full series, you can buy the first 3 books bundled for a reduced rate HERE, and the new Book HERE.

Anyway, I still have several free copies of the new ebook to send out to those who love to read ebooks and write reviews as soon as they finish. If that describes you, send me your email where I can have Amazon gift you the ebook.  You can private message me at my vicky kaseorg-author page on Facebook. This new book is filled with the Gospel, as well as the struggle that all people face: Is God real and will He be there in the midst of my pain?

The short answer is YES.

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Habakkuk 3:19 

God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.