Reclaiming the Abundant Life | Terry Foester
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and beloved passages in the Bible, offering comfort and guidance through life’s most difficult seasons. When we dig deeper, we find it teaches profound truths about how to live a life in full connection with God, our Good Shepherd. Psalm 23 is more than just poetic language—it’s a map to discovering the abundance of life that Jesus promised.
Today, we’re going to explore four ways you can discover the Good Shepherd as laid out in this Psalm. These paths lead to deeper trust, guidance, and peace in your relationship with God.
1. Discover the Good Shepherd by Pausing Between Need and Answer
In Psalm 23, we see that the Shepherd does not provide instant answers or solutions. Instead, there is a deliberate pause between the need and the answer. The psalmist writes, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:2). There’s a slowness in these scenes—quietness by the still waters, the calming meadows—and it’s here that the Shepherd restores the sheep’s soul.
This pause is a powerful reminder that God’s timing is not like ours. In our modern, fast-paced world, we’re not great at waiting. Think about it—how often do we go straight to Google for answers or quickly fill every moment of silence with the noise of our devices? When we rush to fill the space between the need and the answer, we miss the restoration the Shepherd wants to provide in that pause.
Even in everyday life, we often feel that tension between what we need and waiting for God’s answer. Whether it’s relational desires, career goals, or material wants, there is always something we’re yearning for. But in Psalm 23, we are invited to pause in that space of need, rather than rushing forward. This waiting is uncomfortable, sometimes painful, but it creates space for God to work and lead us toward clarity.
Have you become too comfortable filling the gaps in life with distractions rather than letting the Good Shepherd lead you in that space of waiting?
2. Discover the Good Shepherd by Letting Go of Fear in the Valley
Psalm 23 doesn’t shy away from life’s hardships. It takes us from green pastures straight into the valley of the shadow of death. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). David, the psalmist, knew fear—he faced many dangers in his life, yet he makes a bold claim: he lets go of fear.
This act of letting go doesn’t come from a place of ignorance. David’s life was full of legitimate reasons for fear, but it was his trust in God’s presence that allowed him to release it. The valley represents the darkest, most difficult moments in our lives, but it is here that the Shepherd’s rod and staff provide both correction and comfort. In the valley, the sheep can’t always see the shepherd, but they feel his presence through his guidance and protection.
Think about your own valleys—the fears that weigh on you, whether it’s financial pressures, family struggles, or the uncertainty of the future. Our world is filled with anxiety, often compounded by the relentless demands of life. Yet, in the darkest valley, God’s peace is present.
The antidote to anxiety isn’t just everything falling into place. It’s peace—wholeness in the midst of difficulty. Letting go of fear, especially in hard times, is part of discovering the Shepherd’s deep and abiding care.
3. Discover the Good Shepherd by Embracing the Comfort of Discipline
Many of us associate comfort with ease—our favorite couch, a good movie, or a relaxing day off. But God’s comfort is different. His comfort often involves correction. The psalmist tells us, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Both the rod (used for correction) and the staff (used for guidance) are instruments of God’s comfort. They remind us that His discipline is for our good.
In today’s world, comfort often comes through distractions—binge-watching Netflix or scrolling endlessly on our phones. But God’s comfort comes through the discipline of spiritual practices. These practices aren’t always easy. They involve setting aside distractions, focusing on prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, or sitting in silence before God. But just like a good shepherd who disciplines his sheep to keep them safe, God uses discipline to guide us.
The book of Hebrews reminds us that God disciplines those He loves, like a father disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:6). Discipline may not feel pleasant in the moment, but it leads to growth and righteousness. Spiritual disciplines, when embraced, become the rod and staff that guide us back to the Good Shepherd.
4. Discover the Good Shepherd by Trusting His Provision is Best
Finally, Psalm 23 brings us to an important truth: the Good Shepherd provides in abundance. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5). These images—of a table, anointing, and an overflowing cup—represent God’s provision. Even in the presence of difficulties and enemies, God offers abundance.
For David, God’s provision didn’t mean life was free of hardship. David had enemies, and he often had to wait years for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Yet he recognized that God’s provision was always enough, and that ultimately, the Shepherd Himself was his greatest provision.
For us, trusting God’s provision can be challenging, especially when life doesn’t seem to be going the way we hoped. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for us, demonstrating that His provision is always what we need—even when we don’t fully understand it in the moment. This trust in His provision is the final and perhaps the hardest way to discover the Good Shepherd.
Conclusion: Discovering Abundant Life Through the Good Shepherd
In the end, the Good Shepherd leads us into a life of abundance—not necessarily a life without problems, but a life rich in peace, guidance, discipline, and provision. By pausing in the space between need and answer, letting go of fear in the valley, embracing the comfort of discipline, and trusting His provision, you can discover the fullness of life that Jesus offers.
Psalm 23 invites you into this journey. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is always leading, always present, and always providing.