Where is God?
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
There are things in life that we lose. Some of them very precious. It is part of life that there is death. This verse doesn’t mean that they are not important, that they are not missed. It means that somewhere, somehow, we can know all can be ok, because we have God with us. Things may seem awful, but we are not alone in them – God is with us. He is everything, and holds us in our pain, our anguish, our despair.
2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
When we are weary and exhausted, God gives us rest. He holds our burdens, he gives us somewhere to rest, he gives us refreshment. When all around is frantic, God takes us to a place where we can rest in him – a place of peace – deep peace. A place to get the strength needed. Strength for today and tomorrow.
3 He gives me new strength.
When we cannot cope – God can. He renews us, and leads us. When we don’t know where to go, what to do, he does…
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
God takes us. We are not alone. We are not lost. God is there.
4 Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, Lord,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me.
When we are afraid, when we feel so alone, God’s protection is there. A shepherd would normally carry a rod. This rod would be used for protection and a weapon against wild animals. The staff to hook sheep out of trouble. Comfort here stands for protection, peace, preservation, strength, and assurance in the hard places of life. The sheep follow their shepherd, believing that he will look after them. In God is the courage.
5 You prepare a banquet for me,
where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honoured guest
and fill my cup to the brim.
When things are bad, God gives us in abundance. It’s not just a sandwich and a drink, but a banquet and an overflowing cup. And he does it in a way to give us honour. Where our enemies can see how much God loves us. We are God’s honoured guests. He is so glad to welcome us and care for us.
6 I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
and your house will be my home as long as I live.
God’s promises are for every day. For good day and bad days. For sad days and happy days. For easy days and difficult days. For mountain tops and valley bottoms. And we are welcome to live with him – our place is with God – now and always. Nowhere we go – nothing we go through is without his love and goodness there with us. His house is our home – anytime. We can trust in him always.
Thank you God
for walking with us
every step of our life’s varied journey.
Thank you that you let us rest when we need it;
take us along the right paths;
go with us through life’s dark moments;
you feed us abundantly.
Pam's Perambulation 