Will I Ever See Green Grass Again?
By Dr. Marilyn S. Murphree
The verse in the 23rd Psalm says “he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he restoreth my soul (Psalm 23: )
In tough times it can be difficult to look beyond what is happening to us and see the light at the end of the tunnel and answer the question. We say, “I hope I will see the green grass again,” but we are not totally confident that we will in spite of many verses that should assure us of the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. The best we can come up with is to say, “I hope so.” We need hope for the trying times when we are not full of faith and complete certainty that it will happen beyond any doubt. That is not a time to say, “I’m just hopeless.” A little bit of hope for the future will start the process of turning things around in spite of how impossible things seem. Tucked away in the book of Jeremiah is a verse about hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Maybe the green grass is nowhere in sight today and all you see is your life in browned out grass with no rain in sight. How can we believe something when we can’t see it?
II Corinthians 4:18 KJV says “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are not seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The green grass might not be there yet but when our hope is in God who can bring the green grass, it is surely possible in spite of not a blade in sight. We can hope to see the green grass again and restoration for our souls because of something that God said to Moses a long time ago and it is still true for us. “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Moses said, “Lord, don’t send us anywhere if your Presence does not go with us.”
God said, “I hear you. My Presence will go with you.” There was hope even though they couldn’t see it with their physical eyes. This small verse spotlighted God’s promise to keep His word and our hope carries us through the difficulty until the green grass springs up. Hebrews 23:10 says, “Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised.” God is faithful in impossible situations to carry out the promises He has made and He cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18 says, “These two things cannot change. God cannot lie when he makes a promise and he cannot lie when he makes an oath.” These things encourage us who come to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given. “Cast not [Do not throw away] therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward” for ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God you might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35). Cast not away your certainty that the answer is on the way. Yes, you will see green grass again.
