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.