Trust
Read: Psalm 23
“The Lord is my Shepherd.” These words call the believer to put their
trust in the care of the Great Pastor of the universe. In our busy world of go, go, go, rest can be
hard to find. In this Psalm, David writes
of green pastures, quiet meadows and still waters. But it is the Lord who gives rest, “He restores my soul.” People can look
for rest all over the place, but rest is a place of peace that our spirits find
in God through prayer and meditation despite our circumstances and the chaos
around us. David experienced dark,
lonely nights where things seemed out of control, where doubt and fear
assaulted him. Yet He also knew of God’s
presence in the dark valley and He did not fear evil because David knew who it
was that was guiding Him. The Good
Shepherd knows the pitfalls that are lurking in the dark and we must trust that
He will guide us around and through them.
This doesn’t mean that the darkness necessarily goes away but that we
trust and depend on the Good Shepherd to be with us and guide us to safety. It is the Shepherd’s rod or staff which
defends the sheep, not our own strength.
Once the tough times are over, David describes a magnificent banquet set
before Him. The Shepherd provides; David’s
cup overflows. This testifies of the
abundance of goodness and mercy that God bestows upon His children.
Overview:
Verse 1-3: Provision of physical and spiritual
necessities
Verse 4-5: Protection through the valley and
from enemies
Verse 6: Preservation in this life and the
next
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1.
In
what ways do you struggle with finding rest in our busy world of go, go,
go? How can God provide you peace today
in the midst of the chaos around you?
2. What
are some dark valleys that you have had to walk through or in which you are
presently walking through? How has God
provided you comfort?
3.
Ask
the Lord to guide and bring you to safety, to bring you into His presence and
to show you some of the rewards He has in store for you, if you are faithful in
obeying and trusting in Him.
