When I was a young girl, I learned this passage of scripture.  But it wasn’t until I was older, and went through life experiences where this verse became real to me and I truly understood what it meant.

I am thankful to have learned this verse when I was young, and tucked into my heart and memory, so when I was in the midst of living life, I knew the truth.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.“

Psalm 23

This verse is comforting.  It is especially comforting when you find yourself going through a difficult time.  Having this verse memorized in your heart and mind helps you let go of fear and trust that Father God has everything in control and you don’t have to worry about anything.

Truly believe as a child of God that no matter what circumstance you go through, Father God will meet all your needs.  He will even meet your needs when you are in the midst of your enemies, Father God has made a way ahead of time and will take care of you even creating a banquet table prepared for you.

A few examples of when this verse became so real to me a few times in my life that I know truly who my Father God is and that he will always take care of me. These are only a few examples of the many that I could share.

During my Mother-in-laws battle with cancer and subsequent death, I saw first hand how Father God’s comfort and compassion in my life.  She was my best friend since I was 19 years old.  We talked daily by phone until her illness and then she moved in with me.  I took care of her 24/7 for the last year of her life until she died.  After a long and painful illness, she took her last breath surrounded by family in my home.   This was a very difficult time for me.  I was witnessing my best friend and the mother of my husband slowly slip away in this life.  My own father had died suddenly, on my birthday, the year before.  I was only 25 and these were the two people in my life who knew me the most, who I could call on to talk and lean on and they were my biggest supporters.  Now they were dead.  I could never hear their voices or call them for prayer and share something exiting that had happened.

Father God taught me to rest in him.  He helped me to put my trust in Him for guidance and trust Him for reassurance.   Father God taught me to be at peace and just trust him no matter what the circumstance I was going through.

Years later during pregnancy and childbirth (several times), I truly felt Father God was there leading me, and protecting me, even in moments that seemed like I was at death’s door.  I knew without a doubt that God was going to bring me through it, I didn’t need to fear death, and it would turn out exactly as he allowed it to.

Another part of this verse became real to me a few years ago.  At a time when things should have been great, and we had so much to look forward to, a man we thought was a friend and had gone into business with, stole nearly everything we had and stole the business and left us financially crippled.  It was a very hard time for our family.  It took a long time, several years, to recover from the financial loss we suffered by him, and we still have never been able to replace most of what he stole.   Father God wanted us to forgive that man for the evil he had done.  It was hard, but daily we prayed and asked God to help us forgive and prayed for that man to be blessed.

A few months after it happened, a local church knew we were going through a difficult time and gave our name to a local restaurant that each year gives a family a free dinner for the Thanksgiving Holiday.    We accepted their offer and went and enjoyed a wonderful meal.   We were blessed with so much kindness and food that it was overwhelming.  This was a very nice restaurant.   They had several staff wait on us, sometimes three and four staff at the same time as we have a large family.  The owner checked on us several times too, and we were treated so nice.  There were several courses of food, salad, bread, soups, entrees, etc.  They even brought a variety of deserts at the end of the meal.  The table was filled to overflowing, and we were treated as if we were some kind of royalty or something.  After the meal, they offered to show our kids around the restaurant.  They put aprons and hair nets on them and took them for a full tour of the kitchen where food is cooked for the guests and they were allowed to go into the refrigerated coolers where food is stored and to meet the chefs and shake their hands. They were also invited to come again anytime.   About a month later that restaurant blessed our family again and gave us several gifts of new clothes and toys for the kids.

I don’t know when during the meal that I started thinking of this verse, but my heart was filled with gratitude and this verse came to me.  I told my husband that even when we go through the most difficult times, our God is with us, leading us, filling our stomach, giving us drink, and protecting us.  At that very moment of gratitude, I saw a look on my husband’s face as he noticed something in the distance.  I turned and looked behind me over my shoulder.  There at another table, several rows away, was the very man who stole from us and had made our life so difficult.  I honestly nearly fainted.  It was so sureal to be in the whole situation.   I knew this verse had come true “He leadeth me” and “he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies” right before my eyes.

What are the odds that the very man who caused us so much harm would be at the same restaurant at the very same moment in time?  Father God had prepared this a head of time.  How was this even possible?  Only God could do this.

I know this truth.  God is with us!  God will take care of us when we follow him and allow him to lead us in the way we should go.  He will protect us and provide for us.  He is our shepherd.   This is comforting.

The choice is ours to make.  How will we proceed in life?  Who will we follow?  Who will we place our trust in?

We can TRUST Him.

I would encourage you to memorize this passage of scripture and teach it to your children.

Be wise and be blessed!