Nothing causes a meltdown quicker from my kids like unmet expectations. And even though I am a grown-up, I am not immune to having my own “meltdowns” when something I thought should go a certain way did not materialize. A repeated prayer of mine over the years has been for the Spirit to give me a heart that longs for my expectations to be nothing more than whatever God’s will is for me. It’s easier said than done, hence why this is a repeated prayer for me.
Verse 3 in Psalm 23 makes it clear to me that because God loves me, He has a will for me that grants me peace and puts me on the right paths – all for His glory, not my own. When I try to make my own plans or zero in on what I think I deserve apart from His will, I build up my own false kingdom. When I submit to the Spirit, I realize I truly don’t know the correct paths without His guidance, and I certainly can’t refresh my own soul. So I look to my shepherd to guide and refresh me, for His name’s sake.