Still Guided, Still Kept by the Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1

There are moments when the path gets steep, when the valley seems darker than ever before, and when the weight of sickness, grief, and uncertainty presses heavily on our hearts. Our church family is currently going through a season—a time marked by loss, unanswered questions, and moments that test our faith. And yet—the Lord is my shepherd. Not was. Not might be. Is.

In this very moment of uncertainty, God is not distant. God is not unaware. God is our Shepherd—present, steady, and tender.
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To fully appreciate the comfort of this verse, we must consider the one who wrote it. David, the writer of Psalm 23, understood what it meant to walk through life’s valleys. Before he was king, he was a shepherd boy—familiar with solitude, danger, and responsibility. Later, he was a fugitive, running for his life, betrayed by those closest to him, and overwhelmed by grief and personal failure.

Many scholars believe that David wrote this psalm not from the safety of a throne, but from the shadows of struggle. In that wilderness, he reached for a truth more profound than his circumstances: just as he had once cared for sheep, God was caring for him. This was not a lofty theological statement—it was a lived truth. A declaration of trust in a God who never abandons.
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David’s words remind us that even when life feels uncertain or unstable, we are being guided by someone who knows the terrain better than we do—and who loves us more deeply than we can imagine.

I was reminded of this recently during a conversation with two college students—one who just graduated and another who is preparing to graduate next year. As we sat together, their words echoed with honesty and fear. One said, “I thought finishing college would make me feel secure. Instead, I feel more uncertain than ever.” The other added, “Everything feels so unstable. I don’t know what the future holds. I’m anxious about being alone, about making it financially, especially in this political climate.”

Their concerns were real. And in truth, they reflect what many of us feel, regardless of age. Whether we are just stepping into adulthood, navigating midlife, or facing the challenges of aging, we all face valleys. And often, those valleys feel darker when we don’t know what’s ahead.

But this is exactly where Psalm 23 meets us. It offers not false promises of ease, but the assurance of presence. The Shepherd, Jesus Christ, does not remove the valley, but He walks through it with us. He provides. He restores. He protects. He leads.
And so, we cling to David’s words—not as poetry for the past, but as a present promise: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Even in times of sickness, transition, or fear, the Good Shepherd is still guiding us through every doctor’s visit, every tough conversation, every moment of doubt, and every uncertain next step.

We may feel weary, but we will not walk alone.
We may face hardship, but we will not face it without hope.
We may not know the next step, but we can trust the One who leads.

Reflection: Where do you most need the Shepherd's guidance or comfort right now? Can you name a time when God carried you through a difficult season?

Prayer: Lord, in this season of hardship and heartache, we need You more than ever. Be our Shepherd—gentle, present, and wise. Guide us through what we don’t understand. Strengthen the weary, heal the sick, comfort the grieving, calm the anxious, and remind us all that we are not alone. We trust You. We follow You. Amen.
 By Rev. Kay Dubuisson