Living Like the Lord is My Shepherd

Last night, we received news that an elderly gentleman from our church had passed away. In Honduras, it's customary for family and friends to gather throughout the night after a loved one dies. We loaded our church bus with members of our congregation and set out on what we were told would be a two-hour drive.

About two hours into the journey, we asked again how much farther we had to go. "Just two more hours," came the reply.

Several hours later, we finally arrived at the village, where we held a service with the family, prayed with them, and expressed our condolences.

Thankfully, we arrived home late into the night and were able to leave for a previously planned trip to Nicaragua. Already feeling a bit disoriented after the unexpected events of the night before, that feeling only intensified when we crossed the border and both our cell phones suddenly lost service.

For the next two hours, we traveled the old-fashioned way, stopping every so often to ask locals if we were still headed in the right direction.

As frustrating as all the delays and unexpected problems were, they reminded me of how life often feels…plenty of delays! If there's one thing we can always be certain of, it's that life rarely goes according to our plans.

With my personality, it's easy to see distractions and problems as interruptions. I have my goals for the day, and I want to accomplish them! Waiting and trusting God in new seasons of life can make me feel like there’s something I personally should be doing to fix it.

But over the last few months, I've found a daily habit that has helped me tremendously. Each morning, I begin the day with Psalm 23. I spend a few minutes meditating on who my Shepherd is and how He cares for me, and then I relinquish my day to Him.

The Lord — How beautiful to remind ourselves just who it is we are serving. Everyone has a master, but ours is completely perfect in every sense of the word. Even in the midst of uncertainty, our Shepherd is completely good, wise, sovereign, and faithful.

Is — Not just was or will be, but the Lord is my Shepherd. Not just when I'm strong and have my act together, but always. Not just when I'm doing "God things," but always. Today, in this very moment, the Lord is my Shepherd.

My — I'm thankful that the Lord cares for my husband, my mom, my siblings, and so many others. But at the end of the day, I'm especially grateful that He is my Shepherd.

It's easy to wish everyone around us understood us perfectly, but that is a place only God can fill. Only my Shepherd knows my unique personality, weaknesses, and needs. Only my Shepherd knows how to guide me in a way that is perfectly suited for me. As W. Phillip Keller writes, "No one is more qualified to care for sheep than the man who owns them."

Shepherd — All of my joy, peace, and purpose are found in my Creator. Keller also writes, "My serenity has as its basis an implicit, unshakable reliance on His ability to do the right thing, the best thing in any given situation."

When I remind myself that God is my Shepherd, I am reminding myself that I am in the hands of Someone who has my best interests at heart and who desires my good even more than I do. Unlike sheep that are neglected or left to fend for themselves, I belong to the Good Shepherd. He has promised to guide me, protect me, provide for me, and never leave me.

The Days Ahead

As I write this article, we are approaching Managua and will soon arrive at our destination. The road to get here has been full of plenty of detours! But unlike our road trip, I never have to wonder if my Shepherd knows the way. He has never once asked for directions, taken a wrong turn, or been surprised by a detour. He sees the entire journey from beginning to end, and He promises to lead His sheep exactly where they need to go.

So tomorrow morning, I'll open Psalm 23 and begin my day with my needed reminder: The Lord is my Shepherd.