The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-4, NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The Lord is our shepherd.

We lack nothing.

We will never lack anything. 

The pastures our God leads us to are not bare and brittle, the waters are not roaring and ominous. They are full and soft and peaceful and quiet—even when they’re located in the darkest valley. 

And when He makes us lie down in these places, He does so for our good. 

We’re not walking aimlessly. God is leading us somewhere—somewhere good. He’s going before us and behind us, and He’s watching over our steps at all times.

He guides us along the right paths for HIS name’s sake, not ours. Everything we steward is in his hands—it’s His name that is ultimately at stake, not ours.

We don’t have to fear the adversity of the valley—because our shepherd is with us. 

He has the tools to prod us to movement when we need to move and scoop us into his arms when we wander too far.

The very sight of Him is our comfort.

Our Shepherd. 

Our Provider. 

Our Guide.

Our Protector. 

Our Comforter.

So we walk, and we rest. Our Shepherd has us.