He demands it even.
Psalm 23 says, "He makes me lie down in green pastures: He leads beside quiet waters. He restores my soul."
And I, as one of his sheep, wouldn't be able to find the pasture and quiet waters on my own. I wouldn't be able to find the right ones for me without His guidance. There are all sorts books on grief and stress and whatnot -- and many of those books are helpful to a point. But each of us is different, and only our Great Shepherd can lead us to the perfect conditions to restore us.
He knows what we need.
Some of my favorite verses in scripture are the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30:
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."
A friend sent me a book called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It is about recovering your creativity. I've only been doing it for a couple of days but it is already being used in my life where God had already took me -- to my sketchbook and my writing and creativity.
This place has become the green pasture for me at this time in my life. It is an inner freedom that God wants for everyone. Who would have thought drawing and doing morning pages (this is one of the big parts of The Artist's Way 12 week program) would be such a healing process?
It is though.
Ask for those green pastures and quiet waters.
He'll lead you there. He is no respecter of persons. Everyone can be His favorite kid. Everyone can be His favorite Believer.
What is stressing you out?
It doesn't have to be that way.
It can be a whole lot better.