10/19/2020~Psalm 23:3, NIV

Psalms 23:3 says "he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake" This reassuring verse reminds us that God will always be there to help us in times of trouble, no matter what that trouble may be.

In verse 1, David simply states that God is the one who guides him and that because of God, he lacks nothing. God is the reason we are alive and we live for Him and Christ. Without God, we are nothing, but with Him we lack nothing. The chapter continues on with “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters,” (23:2). In this verse, we find that God is the one leading us and is the one who is in control and as long as God remains in control, we can be at peace even when life takes us down. It is when life takes us down that we need to let God take control the most, we need him more than anything.

The rest Psalm 23, which is a short chapter, is about all the good things that God will do for us. In verse 4, the author David states, " 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." Although this can be taken literally, it has a more symbolistic meaning to it. The darkest valley is a hard time you may be going through. Examples of this might include; loss of a job, death of a family member or friend, stressful week at work or school, betrayal, a time of struggling or questioning in your faith, or even just a melancholy day. Evil can take many forms besides Satan and demons. It can take the form of peer pressure, rape, any form of abuse, and the worst evil of all, sin. Through all of these forms of evil and valleys, God and Jesus are with you and they want you to get through it and they will help you. If you are being abused or have been raped, go find someone to get help from and pray to God for healing and safety. If someone you love dies or you're going through a hard time, pray about it, God and Jesus will listen.

In this chapter, David also goes on to say that God will take care of those who love him. Verses 5 and 6 say, "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." Even in the midst of our enemies, God shows us love and cares for us and His goodness overflows over us. We are called to share that goodness, but are to remember that as long as we love the Lord God and Jesus, we will have a place waiting for us in Heaven, which connests to what Jesus told his disciples.