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This week’s devotion is based on Week 4 of the series, “David: Finding Peace when I am afraid” (WATCH HERE)

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Fear is often future focused. It imagines what might go wrong, what could be lost, or what pain may still be ahead. Psalm 23 does not deny that the road may include valleys and enemies, but it ends by reorienting our focus. David looks forward and sees not danger pursuing him, but goodness and mercy. This verse reminds us that God is not only with us now. He is already providing blessings into our future.

The word “follow” in Psalm 23:6 is stronger than it sounds. It carries the sense of pursuing or chasing after. David is saying that God’s goodness is not fragile or passive. It is active and determined. Even when fear tells us we are one step away from disaster, Scripture says we are one step away from grace. God’s goodness does not wait at the finish line. It walks the road with us and stays close behind.

These words come from David’s life experience. He knew seasons of blessing, but he also knew years of fear, flight, and failure. He spent time hiding in caves, misunderstood by others, and uncertain about his future. Yet when he looks back, he does not see a trail of abandonment. He sees the steady faithfulness of God. In Psalm 27 he declares, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Fear did not get the final word. Trust did.

Other Scriptures echo this same promise. Lamentations 3 reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (La 3:22–23).  Romans 8 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro 8:38–39).  Philippians 1:6 tells us that the God who began a good work will carry it on to completion. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Together, these verses form a chorus that speaks over fear. Your story is not unraveling. It is being guided and held together by a God who loves you.

Just like a child walking down a crowded street with a parent doesn’t keep turning around to check if the parent is still there, so God’s children walk through life with the confidence God is there with them.  God’s goodness surrounds us more closely than we realize. Even when fear tempts us to rehearse past failures or worry about tomorrow, this verse invites us to walk forward with confidence…forward to heaven!

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!” Fear loves to shrink our perspective to the moment we are in. Faith expands it. Our future is not uncertain or fragile. It is anchored in the presence of God. No valley, enemy, or loss can undo that promise.  Have NO fear…heaven is yours! 

Reflect: Where have you already seen God’s goodness in your journey, even in hard seasons? What does it mean for you to believe that your future is secure with God?

Prayer: Faithful God, thank You that Your goodness and mercy follow me all my days. Help me live with hope, courage, and trust in Your promises. Amen.

This week’s devotion is based on Week 4 of the series, “David: Finding Peace when I am afraid” (WATCH HERE)

Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Fear often tells us that peace must wait. It whispers that resolution has to come first, that threats must disappear, and that circumstances must improve before peace is possible. Psalm 23:5 challenges that assumption. David does not say the enemies are removed. He says the table is prepared while they remain. God’s answer to fear is not always escape or removing the source of fear, but promising his presence, provision, and protection in the middle of what is causing fear. 

Being invited to sit at someone’s table was an act of honor and belonging. A host does not invite guests casually. To sit at a table meant invitation, acceptance, and care. When David writes that the Lord prepares a table for him, he is describing more than food. He is describing being welcomed and sustained by God even while surrounded by threat. Fear says this is not going to end well. Faith says God has a place for me to sit in his presence. 

Remember David’s life? Long before he became king, he lived with enemies on every side. Saul hunted him. Accusations followed him. His future felt uncertain and fragile. Yet God continued to provide for him. God sent companions like Jonathan and Abiathar. God opened doors of refuge. God anointed him with purpose long before the crown rested on his head. The table was already set even though the battle was far from over.

In Isaiah, God invites the weary to come and eat freely, even while exile and hardship remain (55:1-2) Jesus welcomes sinners to His table before their lives are cleaned up or fully restored. At the Last Supper, Jesus breaks bread with His disciples while betrayal is already in motion. God’s table has always been a place of grace in the presence of trouble, not a reward after it disappears.

God does not wait for your life to become peaceful before offering peace. He does not wait for every enemy to be silenced before calling you His own. He gives peace even when your story is still unfolding.

Imagine being invited to a table where you are not rushed, questioned, or evaluated. You are simply welcomed. You are seen. You are served. That is the posture God takes toward His children. In moments when fear rises and voices of shame or uncertainty grow loud, this verse invites you to sit down and receive what God has already provided, his love, his grace and his peace.

Reflect: What enemies such as fear, shame, or voices from the past try to steal your peace? Where do you see God providing for you right now, even if the situation is not yet resolved?

Prayer: God, thank You for meeting me with grace even when life is messy. Help me receive Your care and believe that I belong at Your table. Amen.

This week’s devotion is based on Week 4 of the series, “David: Finding Peace when I am afraid” (WATCH HERE)

Psalm 23: 4 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.

Fear has a way of intensifying when the path narrows and the light grows dim. It’s easy to trust God on open roads and sunny hills, but Psalm 23 meets us in a much more honest place. David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” This verse does not pretend that valleys don’t exist. Instead, it teaches us how faith responds when they do.

The valley is not a surprise or a detour; it is part of the journey. In the life of a shepherd, valleys were unavoidable routes that led to better pasture. They were narrow, shadowed, and sometimes dangerous, yet they were also purposeful. David does not say if he enters the valley, but though he walks through it. Fear often convinces us that something has gone wrong when life grows dark, but Scripture reminds us that valleys are not evidence of God’s absence. They are often the very places where His presence becomes most real.

What is striking is that David keeps walking. He does not pitch a tent in the valley or turn back in panic. The valley is a passage, not a destination. Fear tells us that this season will never end, that the pain, uncertainty, or loss will define our future. But the Shepherd leads His sheep through the valley, not into it to abandon them. The darkness has a limit, even when we cannot see where it ends.

Shepherds guide their sheep through valleys because those routes often provide water, protection from harsh winds, and access to richer grazing land beyond. Though shadows stretch long across the path, shadows themselves cannot harm. They only exist because something greater is near. In the same way, the “shadow of death” may fall across seasons of grief, illness, or deep uncertainty, but a shadow cannot destroy what God is guarding. The real danger is not the darkness. It is forgetting who is walking beside us.

David’s confidence does not come from the absence of fear but from the presence of God. He says, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Fear does not mean faith has failed. Courage is choosing to trust when your emotions tremble. It is taking the next step when answers feel far away, believing that the Shepherd’s nearness is enough to carry you forward.

When we remember that God is with us, fear begins to loosen its grip. The valley may still feel heavy, but it no longer feels hopeless. God does not rush us through our pain, yet He never leaves us alone in it. If you find yourself walking through a dark place today, take heart: the valley is not the end of your story. The Shepherd is near, and He is leading you through.

Reflect: What valley are you walking through right now? How does knowing God is with you change how you face it?

Prayer: Lord, when fear rises and answers feel far away, remind me that You are near. Walk with me through this valley and give me courage to keep going. Amen.

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.

This week’s devotion is based on Week 4 of the series, “David: Finding Peace when I am afraid” (WATCH HERE)

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

Fear often grows in the space between responsibility and uncertainty. When we feel like everything depends on us, our decisions, our strength, or our ability to figure things out fear finds fertile ground. Psalm 23 opens by addressing that fear, not with instructions or explanations, but with a relationship: “The Lord is my shepherd.”

David does not begin this psalm by describing his circumstances. He does not explain whether life is calm or chaotic, secure or uncertain. He begins by naming who God is to him. The word my is doing more work than we often notice. This is not a distant theological statement; it is deeply personal. The Lord is not merely a shepherd or the shepherd in theory. He is my shepherd. That relationship changes everything.

To call the Lord, “shepherd,” is to say that God takes responsibility for those who belong to Him. Shepherding implies provision, protection, guidance, and watchful care. A shepherd does not stand far off, shouting instructions and hoping the sheep will figure it out. A shepherd stays close. He leads. He guards. He ensures that needs are met. Because of that, David can confidently say, “I shall not want.” This is not a promise of excess, but a declaration of trust: What I truly need will not be missing when the Lord is my shepherd.

A shepherd never expects sheep to provide for themselves. If they could, they would not need a shepherd. Sheep are not designed to survive by self-sufficiency; they are designed to depend. In the same way, dependence on God is not a flaw in our faith. Rather, it is the way we were created to live. Fear often whispers that dependence is dangerous, that we must stay in control to be safe. Psalm 23 gently tells us the opposite: safety comes from being cared for, not from being in charge.

Many of us carry an unspoken pressure to “have it together.” We feel responsible for making sure everything works out, afraid of what might happen if we fall short. But Psalm 23 begins by lifting that burden. You don’t have to be the shepherd of your own life. You don’t have to see the whole path, predict every outcome, or provide everything yourself. God takes responsibility for those who belong to Him.

This is why we don’t need to be afraid. Fear loses its grip when responsibility shifts from our shoulders to God’s. When the Lord is your shepherd, you are not alone, you are not forgotten, and you are not required to save yourself. You are the sheep God loves and cares for!

Reflect: Where do you feel pressure to provide for yourself instead of trusting God? What would change about your day by embracing this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd”?

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I often try to lead myself. Teach me to trust You as my Shepherd. Help me rest in Your care and believe that You will provide what I truly need. Amen.