The strange thing about cows and sheep is that they seldom lie down, and when they do, it is because they feel secure and content. A flock of sheep that is restless and agitated never does well. Sheep are helpless, timid, and feeble creatures who have no self-defenses except to run when danger comes. Therefore, they are always on alert for danger. They can’t defend themselves against predators who can wreak havoc on a flock. A pack of dogs can kill multiple sheep in one attack. Sheep need protection; they need a shepherd.
In the Christian’s life, there is no substitute for the confident awareness that our Shepherd is nearby. There is nothing like Christ’s presence to dispel the fear, panic, and terror of the unknown. Life is full of hazards. No one can tell what a day will produce in new trouble. We live either in a sense of anxiety and fear or in a sense of quiet trust and rest.
Generally, it is the unknown and unexpected that produces the greatest anxiety in us. Often our first impulse is to simply run from the situation rather than take it to God and face it. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” The idea of a sound mind is that of a mind at ease and at peace, not frustrated or obsessed with fear and anxiety about the future.
There is one final point I want to make on this verse, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” He’s not suggesting that you lie down. He’s not asking you to lie down. He’s “making” you lie down for your own good. I interpret this to mean that God puts you in a situation where you have no other option but to lean on Him completely. Have you ever considered that God hasn’t changed the situation that you are in because He’s waiting on you to stop your rebellion and let go of your self-sufficiency? He might be keeping you right where you are until you have learned to rest in Him, declaring your total trust in Him and dependency on Him.