This week’s devotion is based on Week 4 of the series, “David: Finding Peace when I am afraid” (WATCH HERE)
Psalm 23:2–3 — “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Fear often shows up not as panic, but as restlessness. It whispers that if we stop moving, everything will fall apart. It pushes us to hurry, to decide quickly, to fix what feels broken before it’s too late. Psalm 23:2–3 speaks directly to that kind of fear, not by demanding bravery, but by offering rest.
Notice the order of God’s work in these verses. First, He makes me lie down in green pastures. Then, He leads me beside still waters. Only after that does David say, He restores my soul. Direction comes later: He leads me in paths of righteousness. God restores before He redirects. Healing comes before movement. Fear tells us we must keep going to survive; the Shepherd says we must rest in order to be restored.
The phrase “He makes me lie down” can sound forceful, but sheep only lie down when they feel safe. The Shepherd creates an environment of security where fear can finally loosen its grip. In Scripture, still waters often symbolize peace and renewal (Isaiah 30:15: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”). God is not pushing anxious hearts into action; He is inviting them into safety.
We see this same pattern throughout Scripture. Elijah, overwhelmed and afraid, does not receive a lecture or a new assignment right away. God gives him sleep, food, and quiet before speaking (1 Kings 19:5–8). Jesus tells His weary disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). God consistently addresses fear by restoring strength before giving direction.
Think of someone recovering from a serious illness or deep exhaustion. A wise doctor does not immediately prescribe intense activity. Rest comes first, because the body cannot heal while it is constantly strained. God treats our souls with the same wisdom. When fear has worn us down, stillness is not a setback. It is a treatment.
Fear comes when people feel stuck and assume they are failing. But Psalm 23 offers another explanation: perhaps God is restoring you. Perhaps what looks like a pause is actually care. Fear says, “You’re falling behind.” The Shepherd says, “You are being restored.”
God leads us in paths of righteousness, but He does so gently and at the right time. He is not rushed. He is not anxious. He knows that restored souls walk more faithfully than fearful ones. When we trust His pace, fear begins to lose its power.
Reflect: Where do you sense God inviting you to rest rather than rush? What part of your soul feels most weary and in need of restoration?
Prayer: Good Shepherd, quiet my anxious thoughts and restore what is weary in me. Help me trust that rest is not failure but grace. Lead me gently in the way that brings life and teach me to trust Your timing. Amen.