Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Today, I was feeling particularly heavy and weighed down.
The problems of yesterday, today, and tomorrow seemed to be pushing me into corners of every room in my life. Sometimes, it feels as though there is simply too much to carry, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot seem to put any of it down.
So I turned to Psalm 23.
I needed the reminder that I do not walk alone.
I needed to remember that God is my Shepherd. That He sees where I am, even when I cannot see where I am going. That He can lead me through places I would never have chosen for myself and still bring me safely to the other side.
There is something in my heart that I have been struggling with lately.
There is a child in my family whom I have wanted to take in and raise as my own. Not because I want to take the place of her parents, but because I see something in her that touches a very familiar place in me.
I remember what it felt like to be broken. I remember the things that children carry quietly, sometimes without having the words to explain them. And I sometimes wonder if she is carrying some of those same feelings.
I know that I could give her a good life. I know that I could help her. I want to protect her, love her, and make sure she knows that she matters.
But wanting to help someone and actually having the authority to change their circumstances are two very different things.
I attend the school meetings. I pay the school fees. I do what I can behind the scenes. And yet, when it comes to decisions about her life, my voice does not always carry the weight I wish it did.
I have even chosen to keep the fact that I pay her school fees from her because I do not want to disrupt the way she sees her parents. I know how important parents are in a child’s life, and I know that what we do today can affect how a child understands relationships, love, and family tomorrow.
So, I find myself in this uncomfortable place of wanting to do more, but knowing that I cannot control everything.
And perhaps that is where God is asking me to trust Him.
Because sometimes we desperately want to fix something, but God reminds us that we were never meant to carry everything ourselves.
Psalm 23 says:
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”
I don’t know what your valley looks like today.
Maybe you are worried about your children. Maybe you are carrying a situation in your family that you cannot fix. Maybe you are watching someone you love struggle, and you desperately wish you could make everything better for them.
Maybe you are simply tired.
Whatever your valley looks like, please remember this:
You are not walking through it alone.
God is beside you.
He sees the things you cannot change. He sees the prayers you have prayed in silence. He sees the tears you have wiped away before anyone else could see them. He knows the desires of your heart, even the ones you have not been able to put into words.
Sometimes faith means doing what you can and then placing the rest in God’s hands.
I may not have the authority to make every decision I wish I could make. I may not be able to change everything for this child. But I can pray. I can love. I can help where I am able. And I can trust that God sees far more than I do.
So today, if you are walking through a valley, don’t be afraid.
Your Shepherd is with you.
He will lead you beside still waters. He will restore your strength. He will guide your steps when you do not know which way to go.
And even in the darkest valley, He has not left you.
Keep walking.
He is right there beside you.
Sincerely,
Restored By Grace
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding me that I am not alone. Thank You for leading my steps, even when I cannot see where You are taking me.
Lord, You have the final say. Even when things feel heavy and I do not understand why certain things are happening, help me to trust that You are there with me and that, in the end, everything will work according to Your will.
Help me to surrender the things I cannot control and trust You with the things that are closest to my heart.
Thank You for walking with me through every valley and reminding me that I never have to walk through it alone.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.