A lot of the time, the reading of Psalm 23 has led many to associate this psalm of trust with death and mourning. However, this psalm is not just a prayer for those being laid to rest in peace, it is also a reminder about the beauty of living life in the here and now even amid the usual darkness and stress we experience in the day-to-day life. This psalm further reminds us that God sustains, provides and cares for us besides the opposing messages we hear from our culture. In the midst of our hyper-activity and busyness of our lives, Psalm 23 also resets us and invites us to turn towards the shepherd who makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters in order to restore our weary souls. 

I love this version of Psalm 23 from the Jesus Story Book Bible. It reads,

“God is my Shepherd

And I am his little lamb.
He feeds me. He guides me.
He looks after me. I have everything I need.
Inside my heart is very quiet. As quiet as lying on soft green grass
in a meadow by a little stream.
Even when I walk through dark scary, lonely places
I won’t be afraid because my shepherd knows where I am.
He is here with me.
He keeps me safe. He rescues me.
He makes me strong and brave.
He is getting wonderful things ready for me. Especially for me.
Everything I have ever dreamed of.
He fills my heart so fully of happiness, I can’t hold it all inside.
Wherever I go, I know
God’s never-stopping, never-giving up,
Unbreaking, always and forever love will go too.”

May you know the God of peace in your day-to-day. May you know the God who equips and sends- the One who meets you in your darkness and brings you to a place of serenity- a place of rest. May you know God like a parent that provides all that you need, and may you know the kind of love that only God provides: never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever.

Let’s explore this type of restorative peace together in Psalm 23 on Sunday.

See you 10:30 Sunday morning in-person or online,

Pastor Mark Nsimbi