“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1 NIV)
The last three lines are emphatically underlined in my Bible and my heart drifts back to a conversation with my mother many years ago. She was in her daily bible study when the first half of the first verse of Psalm 23 left up off the pages. She tried to read on the but Spirit keep insisting.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Try as she might, she could not press past those last three words.
“I lack nothing.”
She thought of her closet full of clothes and her fridge full of food and her driveway full of cars.
“I lack nothing.”
She considered her treasure trove of friends and parishioners.
“I lack nothing.”
My mother was a dreamer. She died with a bucket list unfulfilled.
Fly an airplane.
Learn to make a creme brûlée.
Speed along the autobahn.
Meet Ted Neely.
See the Rockets perform one more time.
“I lack nothing.”
I know my mother. She surely passed from this life to the next with prayer requests still on her tongue.
Unsaved adult children.
Mending of major relationships.
Healing in her own body and likely many others.
“I lack nothing.”
God is enough in the lack and the abundance alike. David knew it; whether he wrote this as shepherd pauper, hunted fugitive or disgraced king. David was sure of the goodness of God and he knew that God alone would always be enough.
I am incredibly grateful for a mother who lived in a way that left a godly legacy for her children to glean from. I’m thankful that she shared with me her personal experience in God’s word because this morning I am reminded anew. I lack nothing.
See, right before I opened God’s word today, I had poured out my heart in gratitude, forgiveness, repentance and request. And then the Spirit swept in with grace and truth. I lack nothing. If the Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need. I can trust the good path He is laying down before me. I can be sure of His strength surging within my frail frame. I can walk through the deep, dark and lonely stretches because He is always ever beside me. He protects. He consoles. He provides. He consecrates. Surely His love will chase after me all my days until I live in His house forever.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His names’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 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 Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23, NIV)
Lord, today we recognize You as enough. Remind us when we feel lack. Fill my heart with Your power and presence. Tug our gaze toward eternity in Your house. May all my hope rest in You. Amen.
A dear friend of mine shared this song with me. It buoyed her heart during a season of isolation and frustration. I hope it will encourage you today. <3