As we journey through our latest series at ZION (Reset to bring refreshment) I am reminded of Psalm 23.
Psalm 23:1-6
“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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
The first time I found myself truly relating to Psalm 23 I was eighteen years old, and just returned from a short (2 week) missions trip to Bangalore, India. At the time we were being asked to speak the words of the Psalm aloud as part of a presentation at another local church where we were sharing about our Mission. I remember very little about the church service, just a vague recollection of standing up next to plush pews and reciting my portion of the verse.
I had heard the verse before, but for some reason it struck me differently. It could have been simply because I had returned home emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted, happy, but weary. It could have been that I was in a stage of my life where finding my person, preparing for a career, a family, and the future in general, were pressing down heavily upon me, but whatever it was Psalm 23 became a recognisable and relatable word from God for me.
Psalm 23 became a recognisable and relatable word from God for me.
From that point on Psalm 23 has flowed in and out of my life, certain verses hitting harder than others depending on the seasons I was in, or had come from.
To me, Psalm 23 is a reminder of refreshment, it is a reminder of the peace and safety God provides. Each verse is a deep exhale, as though the heaviness of life is being exhaled and I am breathing in God’s breath. As though He is filling my lungs. As though He is reminding me of the big T truth, rewriting negative thoughts that would crush me beneath their heaviness.
Psalm 23 is a reminder of refreshment, it is a reminder of the peace and safety God provides.
He is there when I am aware of how blessed I am, and at those times He still invites me to a place of beauty and encourages me to rest.
He is there when I am happy and positive, and walk confidently in my season. In the same way He is there when the season of my life is uncomfortable, and I am weary and lack the confidence to navigate it on my own. It’s in those seasons that He provides me words of education and affirmation, because while I can’t see what is coming around the next turn, He does and He makes sure that I am on the best path.
He is there when it feels as though the world is against me, when I know I can’t stand up to the pressure of the world around me and that I can’t possibly provide anything of worth or value, He provides me with value in who I am, what I am doing and where I am going.
He provides me with value in who I am, what I am doing and where I am going.
Because He is with me, behind me, and before me, I know that the only possible result for my life is good.
I believe that where Psalm 23 is true for me, it is true for you. I believe that the refreshing from God is available for you. I believe that God is mapping your way, and that though the path may look ominous, there is rest, refreshing, encouragement, and education as you journey.