Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing… Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23 is a familiar Psalm to many. It talks about how Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
Shepherds have a very important job. Sheep are completely defenseless in the face of an attack. They have no sharp teeth or claws, and they certainly cannot outrun a predator, so when a wolf comes after them, they are going to lose. They are totally dependent on the shepherd to protect and lead them. He watches for danger and uses the crook of his staff to pull them back into the fold when they start to wander outside the bounds of protection. He provides for their every need from food and water to protection. The sheep know their shepherd, and they will listen to the shepherd and follow where the shepherd leads.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. When we become his, he is our Shepherd, and we lack absolutely nothing. There is nothing that we need or want that he cannot provide. The beautiful thing about this shepherd is that he doesn’t just give us everything we need, he is everything we need. If we are hungry, he is the Bread of Life. If we are thirsty, he is the Living Water. If we are in the dark, he is the Light of the World. If we are lost, he is the Way. If we need it, he has it. If he doesn’t have it, we don’t need it.
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. Psalm 23:2-6
We have a Shepherd - a Savior - who gives us all good things. He meets all our needs, but he also meets all our wants if we let him. We may try to get our wants fulfilled in other places, but we never will be able to find that satisfaction anywhere else. He provides us with the rest we need because we can rest IN him when we cannot find rest anywhere else. We will only find green pastures in him.
He gives us the peace we yearn for because he is our still waters in a rushing world chaos and disorder. He restores our soul. When he restores us, he doesn’t just restore in part, he restores our whole being. The shepherd knows there must be a restoration for our journey in life and provides that opportunity. He provides the peace and restoration we need.
When we wander from Jesus, who gives us everything we need, we will find nothing we need. We lack nothing in him but without him, we lack everything. When we stray from him, we cannot find our way back without his grace. In his marvelous grace, he makes us alive in him and restores our soul.
He leads us on paths of righteousness. Our paths in life are determined by our destination. When we have a relationship with God, his glory should be our goal – our destination. So whatever path he puts us on, the destination is his glory and our good. It is through Gods restoration of grace that he leads us to the right paths. His grace restores us, puts us on the right path, keeps us on the right path, sustains us, and strengthens us. In the darkest valleys he comforts us.
How have you felt the presence of your Good Shepherd in your life, meeting all your needs?
