You Have Everything You Need
By Rev. Kyle Norman
“God my Shepherd, I don’t need a thing” (Psalm 23:1, The Message)
When I was a boy, I could never understand Psalm 23. The opening verse, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want,” made no sense. I couldn’t understand why we didn’t want the Lord. Why were we praying about a Shepherd that we reject? I am embarrassed to admit how many years later, I learned what this verse means! In the context of Psalm 23, Want speaks not of desire but of need. Being “in want” describes insufficiency, a recognition that our lives do not contain the necessary survival resources. Thus, David recognized no lack in his life with the Lord. With the Lord as his Shepherd, David had everything he needed. Every line and image of this Psalm communicates this fundamental truth.
David wrote, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Has it ever occurred to you that the lamb is lying down in their dinner? Lush pastures are a smorgasbord for hungry sheep. Sheep don’t lie down in pastures. Instead, they graze, feast, and nourish their hungry stomachs. That is unless they are satisfied. If a sheep is fully satisfied, then the sheep will lie down. They do so because they don’t need to feed. The Lord has provided all they need.
Similarly, sheep only walk beside the quiet waters, which are cool and refreshing. David wrote that the shepherd “leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Instead of drinking the waters deeply to quench an inner thirst, David described his life as walking beside the waters. Isaiah later echoed this sentiment: “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). David need not come to the waters, only beside them. Why? Because he is no longer thirsty. David found the fountain of living water to refresh and restore his thirsty soul. David has everything he needs. Of course, such sentiments are easy to make when everything is ideal and blissful. When life is full of satisfaction and tranquility, it is easy to say that we lack no good thing. But what about when life turns dark? What about when the pathways the Lord leads us upon enter valleys of the shadow of death? What is our response?
For David, his response was the same. Even in a place of darkness and struggle, where he felt the threat of death and the imposing onslaught of enemies, David still affirmed the Lord’s goodness upon him. He said, “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.” The darkened valley didn’t threaten David because he had everything he needed to walk through the plight. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Let us not, therefore, be afraid.” For David and us, the truth is clear: Death holds no power; it has no victory or sting because the Lord is present.
The Good Shepherd is with us. The Lord does not stand removed from troublesome places. But, even when surrounded by enemies dark and threatening, we are protected by the Lord’s presence. He spreads a tent of protection over us where no evil can conquer. He nourishes us in safety and anoints us with abundant healing. Yes, we may feel their taunts, and at times the enemies of our soul may seem uncomfortably close. But we need not fear. We have everything we need.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Psalm 23 is often read at funerals. The depiction of the shadow of death and the assurance that we shall “dwell in the house of the Lord, forever” makes it a fitting reading for these occasions. Yet the Psalm is not about death at all. David did not write this poem about his life beyond the grave. Instead, he wrote this Psalm to reflect on his life with the Lord and his assurance of God’s eternal presence. The Shepherd of our souls does not stand in eternity, waiting for us to arrive after life’s journey. Instead, the Lord walks with us through whatever terrain we find ourselves in. Whether we walk in the lush and blissful pastures of ease or struggle through the dark valleys of discouragement and discontent, the Lord’s presence is the same.
Let the words of this Psalm wash over you. Allow its truth to sink deep within. Psalm 23 is an assurance for your Christian life today. It speaks to God’s provision, protection, and presence over you. Whatever requirements you need to meet, the challenges or opportunities that lie before you will be provided. As followers of Jesus, the Shepherd is with you. There is nothing you lack. You have everything you need.
Further reading:
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/PatrikStedrak
The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.
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