The Lord Is My Shepherd
Good morning Immanuel family! There is no promise we’ll have everything we want, but we can be sure we’ll lack nothing we need.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps 23:1)
Sometimes it’s the familiar verses that are the most problematic. We’ve seen this verse embroidered on cushions, written in calligraphy, set against backdrops of fluffy sheep and charming meadows. But it’s a verse of defiance. At the front door of this Psalm David is asserting something precious and formidable. God is a shepherd. But that doesn’t mean we’ll have everything we want. It means we’ll lack nothing we need.
God is not promising every physical need will be met. It’s no guarantee against an accident, diagnosis, or injury today. He’s not promising every emotional need will be met. There may be mental health challenges, loneliness, and anxiety in this world. He is promising to meet our every spiritual need, lead us in his ways, and do his best for us. That will involve some dark valleys and cold shadows on the way. But the grassy uplands and still waters are ahead if we will follow him.
Today I need to pray that God won’t give me what I want, but what I need. I also need to pray that, more and more, what I want will be what I most need. It’s a lot to trust him with. But this shepherd is no stranger whose heart is hidden from us. He walks each step with us, an unfailing companion. More: he has scars and bruises; he walks with a limp, for this shepherd was willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect us, to suffer more than anything we could ever fear. There is no one we can trust more.