In Psalm 23, King David writes: “The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. He gives me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. He gives me new strength. For the good of His name, He leads me on paths that are right. Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd’s staff comfort me. You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil of blessing on my head. You give me more than I can hold. Surely Your goodness and love will be with me all my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23, ICB
I believe and embrace that scripture with all of my heart, but I don’t feel it today. Today, I feel as if I’m far away from the rest of the green pastures and from that goodness and love.
But it doesn’t matter how I feel right now. I choose to believe the Lord.
Psalm 23 does more than tell us that God protects, guides, and blesses. Instead, like any good story, it shows us instead the image of who we truly are – a powerless sheep stranded in a world of dangerous ditches and ravenous wolves. Psalm 23 shows us that we need a shepherd.
We need the Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can truly bring us to that everlasting goodness and love.
*Image by Javardh
JohnJFrady.com 