By: Biak Sang, a freshman Christian studies major from Garland/
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still water, He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His namesake.
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.
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 will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
For the past few years, especially my time in high school, this poem has been very constant to me.
I have seen a lot of my life reflect King David’s.
In this instance, Psalm 23, David writes from his viewpoint of being a Shepherd, and reflects it as if God is that Shepard towards a sheep like him.
In my life now, this chapter brings me peace beyond measure, a hope that my circumstance isn’t permanent, and a reminder that I am guided constantly. Throughout high school, I struggled with abandonment from my friends, shame of myself, doubt of God, and depression. In those moments, I would question why I was not hearing the Lord’s voice. I questioned why He failed to respond.
Yet, as I’ve lived through that and started a new season in college, God was always there, at times quietly. He was present by still waters, and green pastures. Sometimes, He delivers immediately out of trials, and most times, He guides through it. That has become present each day in my life even now. As John 16:33 writes, Jesus is our peace, and He has conquered all anxiety and the world.
I pray today, that you would realize that God only needs but a whisper to reach you. God is near, and He is peace.