Where is God in my time of need? - Psalm 23

Psalm 23:

“The Lord is my shepherd

I shall lack nothing

He lays me down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul.

He directs me in paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Though I walk in the valley

of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil

For You are with me.”

What does it mean to be a shepherd?”.

A shepherd watches over each sheep. And when one wanders off and loses his way, the shepherd rescues him. He may have strayed inches from a cliff, high up on a steep slippery embankment. Nevertheless, the shepherd finds a way to rescue him even in the most dangerous circumstances. The shepherd rescues him without recrimination only with understanding and compassion.

“On the side of the mountain, as the sheep balances by the crest of a rocky cliff, looking down at the rocks far below, there is great fear.

Down in the valley, where predators can see him from far away, as the sheep passes, sensing the danger all around him, there is great fear.

Once aware that the shepherd is close by, whether the sheep is resting in a peaceful lush meadow or passing through a valley surrounded by those who strive to do him harm, there is no fear. He knows he is protected.

In a similar way, in our lifetime, whether we are enjoying a peaceful day or enduring a dangerous journey of struggle and loss, God is with us through each moment, each step of the way.

“And throughout this journey that is our life, as Kind David sings …

“You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup is full.

May only goodness and kindness

pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

for the length of days.”

“Ach tov v’chesed

Yir’d’funi kal Y’mai chayai

V’shv’ti b’veit Hashem l’orech yamim.”

(excerpt from "Software for the Soul: Psalms for Everyone - discovering the inner meanings" - Click Here for the link)