Before I begin, I have a song recommendation (here). I heard this song during my quiet time. It effectively captured Psalm 23 and what it means to me. The first line goes like this, Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23/So just say it to yourself ‘til you believe it. Anxiety is the opposite of freedom. Anxiety holds us in a continuous loop until we are dizzy and confused. Psalm 23 allows us to let go of all our worries and anxieties so that we can rest peacefully. Sometimes the best medicine for anxiety is repeating something over and over again, even if you don’t believe it. But the act of it helps. There have been multiple occasions where I quoted Psalm 23 to myself when I really didn’t want to, when I felt overwhelmed and anxious. But slowly, with each refrain, I felt the anxiety roll off of me and I felt the merciful hand of the Lord lead me to still waters.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:1-2
Wanting and needing something are two different things. When you want, you yearn for it. When you are in need, your mind and everything is focused on that need. Take food. Let’s say there’s chocolate cake after dinner. You have just been given dinner and are fed, you are full, but you still want the chocolate cake. There is no reason why you should have the chocolate cake, except that you want it. It looks delicious. I can distract you, I can turn the conversation away from the cake, and be successful.
But what if you have not eaten dinner, what if the last time you ate was breakfast? When you see that chocolate cake, your stomach will most likely grumble. Even something as light as saltine crackers would look appetizing. No matter how much I tried to distract you and see about taking a walk first or watching a movie first. You are going to be thinking of that chocolate cake. Because what you need, all you desire, is getting food in your body.
At work, I keep a stock of snacks for my students. I noticed that students would come into my office, upset and angry about an incident. As we talked, the student would say how they were hungry or that they hadn’t eaten since breakfast. So I offer a snack and almost instantly, the student calms down. When your body needs or craves something, it kicks your brain into a fight or flight mode.
With the Lord, he has our needs covered. He has snacks in his room for us and is ready to lead us to a calm space, whether that’s a calm space with pillows or toys or outside in nature with the trees and roses, or simply a fruit gummy snack.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:3-4
Because the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, has our needs covered. Our souls can be restored, we can re-regulate our emotions, and return to the “real world.”
I tell my students that my office is a safe place. I tell my students that I support them and allow them to tell me what is causing them trouble. I walk with my students, helping them navigate their emotions and figure out what the solution is. But I am limited in what I can do. The Lord is not limited though.
While I am unable to be with my students 24/7 or even be with you 24/7, the Lord does not have limitations. He is with us always. He walks through the valley of the shadow of death with us, he stands beside us when we are crumbling. He is there when we cry. He is there when we need and want comfort.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:5-6
The Lord is with you.
The Lord wants you to come to him freely, to go to whatever your calm space looks like and to tell him what is bothering you. He wants you to feel safe with him, so safe that you are free to be yourself and to let down your guard.
If you noticed, the Lord was written as such. In a personal way, as if we were saying the name of a friend. Whereas, in verse 6, it is written in all caps, LORD. LORD is a title, a title for Yahweh. It is stating a place – the house of the LORD, telling us that because of the Lord and who he is, we can live in His house one day.
All because we can freely be ourselves around him.
Elizabeth