Lie Down and Sleep

Hungry, thirsty and wearied from a narrow and frightening escape, King David led family, close friends and his army from the comfort of their homes in Jerusalem across the Kidron brook east of the city to set up camp in a wilderness area somewhere north of the Dead Sea. Absalom, David’s son, was in pursuit of the throne of Israel. Absolom was in pursuit of David.

Absalom’s hatred was originally aimed at his half-brother Amnon who had fallen in love with Tamar, Absolom’s beautiful sister. Tamar refused Ammon knowing that his intentions were sinful. Amnon raped Tamar and then in a fit of anger sent her away. Tamar confided in her brother Absalom, but he encouraged her to be quiet about the matter. He had nothing to say to Amnon, good or bad.

Two years later Absalom saw an opportunity to resolve his hatred. He invited all his brothers together for a celebration during the shearing of the sheep. During the party, when everyone was merry with wine, Absalom gave the command and his men killed Amnon. Absalom ran to the land of Geshur where his grandfather (mother’s father) was king. There he stayed for three years.

Daily David mourned the death of Amnon, his firstborn son. Eventually, Joab, the commander of David’s army, humbly requested that David send for Absalom. However, upon Absalom’s arrival David refused to see him face-to-face.

Having no interaction with his father Absalom sat at the entrance of Jerusalem and greeted people as they came to the city. He assured everyone that he would render justice if only he had the authority to judge their complaint. He endeared himself to all of Israel, while, at the same time he was calculating a secret plan to overthrow King David.

Absolom had many reasons to be angry with his father. However, for this occasion his anger grew into hatred so that he wanted to kill David and assume the throne of Israel.

And yet, no evil plan is without fault and a messenger informed King David that “the hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” David understood and immediately evacuated his family, close friends, and his loyal army. While fleeing from Absalom he wrote the third Psalm which begins:

O Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.” 

--Psalm 3:1-2

David had victoriously faced the giant, Goliath; but now he had to face his son. How could he fight his own flesh and blood? With Absalom enthroned what would be the fate of Israel? What could David have done or said to bring about a better result? Before going into battle, he told his men to deal gently with Absalom. Could they follow his command? Would they?

David: 

   deposed king; 

   one son lost to death, one son lost in life; 

   leader of family and friends, 

   leader of an army, 

   leader of a nation; 

   chosen by God.

What an enormous burden weighed upon David’s shoulders. Yet as we look back at this event, David stands as a tremendous example of dependence on and confidence in God. From Psalm 3:

You are a shield around me, O Lord (v. 3)

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. (v. 5)

From the Lord comes deliverance. (v. 8)

David knew that God was greater than his problems. Even with impossible circumstances he was able to prepare a place of rest and peacefully lie down and sleep knowing that God was his sustainer and deliverer.

How do you view God?

   Is He your sustainer and deliverer? 

   Is your God bigger than your problems? 

   Can you prepare a place and lie down and sleep?


Mark Stinnett

June 2, 2024

Who Will You Call?

With such a robust language as English, we often mask our problems with synonyms. For example: “I’m not worried; I’m just a little anxious.” Or, “I’m not anxious; I’m concerned.”

We really do understand; changing terminology does not remove anxiety. Change the word to worry or concern, and the anxiety remains.

I wonder why many Christians like to dodge the word anxiety. Perhaps we do not want to admit our weakness choice.

Jesus taught: “No one can serve two masters.” Then He said, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life….” Anxiety occurs when we put anything else above God.

Do you remember these teachings?

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:6–7 (NASB95)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks-giving let your requests be made known to God. 

—Philippians 4:6 (NASB95)

It is easy to read these passages and think, “I am not supposed to have anxiety. Worry is a bad thing.” Then we either change the word and ignore our anxiety, or we feel guilt because the anxiety is real. So, let’s deal with reality.

Life is full of uncertainty, which causes anxiety.

At the heart of anxiety is fear of the unknown. How will I survive in life? Will I have enough money to do this or that? What if I make a bad decision? How will I deal with the long-term effects of my injury? The question is not whether we will experience uncertainties, rather, what will we do when uncertainties arise?

When the washing machine fails, we turn to a repairman. Storm damage, turn to an insurance agent. Injury, turn to a physician. But if we do not know where to turn, then what...??

I don’t have a deep understanding of the insurance industry or the medical field. Yet, I trust professionals to tell me what to do. When I turn to God for life’s uncertainties, it is no different. I may not understand God, but I can trust that He has already told me what to do. (Scripture.)

When King David was pursued by his enemies he wrote that he “lay down and slept.” He had no worry. Then he revealed his secret. “I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.” (Psalms 3:5) What was his great uncertainty? He did not know whether he would live through the night, and he could do nothing about it. He was able to sleep because he had placed his concern for his life into God’s hands. When he awoke, he knew that God had sustained him. Since he could not control the forces against him while he slept, he trusted God for that.

When uncertainties arise, what do we do?

• Address the things you can control, and...
• Turn to God. Quit looking at possessions.
• Humble yourself. Pride is self-centered. Humility is God-centered. You must stop dwelling on yourself and things that you cannot control. Lower yourself in subjection to God.
• Pray. Prayer is your avenue of communication to God. He is available 24/7/365. He listens to your concerns (worries and anxieties). He cares. So, He acts.

Put your life in the hands of the One who created life. You may not know the outcome until morning comes. So...just wait. And if you wake up in Paradise...no worries there.

Mark Stinnett

April 16, 2021

Sleep In Peace

She turned him down and he was upset. No, he was more than upset; he was beside himself. He was in disbelief; he didn’t understand. He thought she was the one. A roller coaster of emotions followed. Quiet sorrow, confusing frustration, anxiety, bitterness, anger.

“It will be alright, son. Give it time,” his dad consoled him offering comforting words.

His dad was calm...and correct.

Do you know how the dad was able to console his son? Do you know why the dad was not caught up in waves of emotional distress?

If you have ever experienced a childhood romance, sometimes called puppy love, then you know. The immature affection felt in a childhood relationship is just that, affection; not genuine love. It is a fondness felt between two young people and it is rooted in emotion and physical attraction and dependent upon favorable circumstances.

If you have ever had to console one of your own children in similar circumstances, you may empathize with them, but you have knowledge that goes beyond their confusing emotions. You have understanding that is grounded in experience and reality.

The young person is filled with anxiety because he has limited experience in life. He has not been through 'this' kind of trial and is filled with uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

The young man in the illustration might be able to listen and trust his dad. Yet, there is also an element of desire that complicates matters. His dad might assure him that there will be another young lady for him in the future. Yet, even if he accepts it, he does not want to accept it. He wants things to turn out the way he wants. This may or may not be a sign of selfishness, but it is certainly a sign of immaturity.

We might be amused with this illustration, and yet it is descriptive of so many people’s lives. Life is good and then the circumstances change.

• There might be a falling out with a friend.
• Personal health issues arise.
• A close friend or family member passes away.
• Things change for the worse at work.
• A storm causes damage, and financial stress.

Why are so many Christians filled with anxiety? Why do we lash out in anger toward family members when frustrated? Why do we feel bitterness and confusion? Why do we wring our hands with anxiety over life’s uncertainties?

Absolute truth: Life is filled with uncertainties. There will be happy circumstances and sad circumstances and a whole lot of circumstances that are neither happy or sad. That’s Life!

King David was in the worst of circumstances. His son, Absalom, desired the throne and mounted an attack against him. David had to flee Jerusalem. Friends turned against him. His son’s armies pursued him. Yet David wrote:

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

—Psalm 3:5

How did he overcome anxiety?

His heavenly Father could see what he could not. David possessed promises that would not fail because it was God who had promised. He trusted in God who sustained him.

We are not promised a problem-free life. Yet, we know some things about the future. God has revealed; God has promised. Even though we cannot see tomorrow, the assurances of God give us confidence in living life today...and in sleeping in peace tonight.

Mark Stinnett

April 9, 2023

Who Sits on the Front Porch of the House of Anger?

I think it’s time we had a little chat. 

I want to talk with you about your attitude.

I am aware that things did not work out exactly as you had planned. I know that you had your hopes up but you were disappointed. I understand that it was really important to you, but that folks just don’t seem to care.

I am really sorry that things did not go your way. The frustration is real. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as ‘undo’ or ‘redo.’

You may not feel that it is a good time to say this, but I want you to know that I care enough to take the risk. 
You really need to work on your attitude.

When things go sideways and plans are frustrated, WE (humans) usually get frustrated. When life is going OK, but people interrupt our lives and mess things up, WE get frustrated.

Do you know what happens when most people get frustrated?

I’ll bet you do; you’ve seen it. I’ll bet you’ve felt it. Frustration sits on the front porch of the house of anger. The door is wide open and frustration waits (not too long) to see if things will take a quick turn for the better (i.e. the way you want things to go). More often than not, frustration bolts right through the door: Anger.

A lot of times when people do not get their way, they skip the moment of frustration and pitch a fit. That’s the way we talked about it when I was a kid: Pitching a fit or throwing a fit. More accurately it is displaying a fit of anger.

If anger were not so serious, it would be amusing to see how many different words or phrases people use to mask the reality of anger.

• “I’m really upset.”
• “I can’t tell you how frustrating that is.”
• “You are really aggravating me.”

We like our slang terms too:

• “He’s hot under the collar.”
• “She was on fire when she found out.”
• “That really ticked him off.”

We even mask anger when we advise:

• “You just need to blow off some steam.”
• “Why don’t you vent your frustration.”

You may be thinking: "The Bible says, 'Be angry and do not sin.' Doesn’t that mean that it is possible for a person to become angry and yet not sin?"

“Yes, it does,” and “yes, that is correct.”

Why is it that so many people quote that verse to say that it is not wrong to be angry; to justify anger? Take a look at the entire verse:

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
—Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB95)

Perhaps another verse will help to put things into perspective:

But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
 —James 1:19-20 (NASB95)

Anger does not possess the quality of being good. An angry person is never confused with a good person. Paul did not write to Christians in order to justify their anger. Jesus came to deal with sin, not justify anger and give the devil opportunity.

God does not want you to be angry. 

It is really that simple.

When you are angry, even when you deal with it properly, you are still not achieving the righteousness of God.

Frustration sits on the front porch of the house of anger. Don't let your emotions rule over you. Don’t allow your frustration to walk in the door; get off the porch. 

Place value on God’s righteousness, not your way.

Mark Stinnett