Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 23
23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.
23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
Reflections
This is a well known and popular passage of scripture, yet it holds so many deep truths that I think are so vital to the Christian walk. This Psalm covers a vast picture of just how much God cares for His children and how in Him we lack nothing.
From looking at the world around us, especially with how things are moving forward politically, it is no wonder that fear and uncertainty are striking at the heart of some Christians. There is a sense of unpredictability of the nations leadership and yet we need to come back to the point that God is carefully watching and planning out the course of not only the future of the united states, but for the entire world.
Our fears and anxieties are not outside of God’s control. We serve a God who was able to spread an entire sea to lead a nation across it. We are under the protective hand of a God who was able to shut the mouths of lions in order to keep His child from being eaten alive. We are under the constant care and control of a God who was able to calm the winds and rains in the midst of a dangerous storm. There is nothing too big or too small that our God cannot handle. Let us put our full confidence and assurance in Him.
This Psalm can bring us an enormous amount of comfort because we can see that even in the most darkest and unstable times, God is still in control and is not moved by the worlds events. This is a prayer that we can pray with certainty knowing that God is watching over His people and we can rest on His loving and protective hand.
The world around us is filled with adversity and trials. Whether you live in the first world or the 3rd world we are faced with problems. However, even within the trials God is with us. While knowing this fact does not make our problems just vanish, it does help us to persevere in the face of troubled times. I personally, tend not to worry too much in times of trial because I know God has always gotten me through the trails in the past. I have no reason to believe He will not continue to do so.
Allow God to be your guide and your comfort in difficult times. You will find that you as a person can still live with the joy of the Lord even when life gives you lemons.