Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

In our world, goodness and mercy might be hard to find, or so think. We are taught from an early age that our productivity measures our worth, and if you aren’t productive, well, you aren’t worth much. When we feel like we aren’t worth much, it might be hard to find the goodness and mercy given to us.

Have you ever considered the promises given to us in Psalm 23? God promises the fulfillment of our needs, rest for our weariness, comfort for our soul, and honor even when faced with adversity. The Psalmist goes on to say that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

Stop for just a moment and think about that; “God’s goodness and mercy following me all the days of my life.” I find comfort in these words. It reminds me of who I am and whom I belong to. It reminds me that no matter what is happening in my life, I am still considered a beloved and claimed child of God.

Nothing on this side of heaven can or will separate us from that love freely given to us by the outstretched hands of Christ Jesus. When we find ourselves feeling the weight of the world telling us we need to produce our worth, take a breath and be reminded that all creation was worth so much that God came as a ransom for the life of everyone and everything, which includes you. Find comfort from the words of the Psalmist that God’s mercy and goodness follows you all the days of your life.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Pastor, Chad Rademacher