The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  Psalm 23:1

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by life. We wake up in the morning dreading a particular task or a difficult conversation we have to face that day. It’s easy to feel like we are not enough. It’s easy to feel like we are clueless as to how to handle some problem facing us.  And those feelings may be real and valid at times.  But feelings aren’t the whole story.

Maybe we don’t have all the answers. Maybe we don’t have the strength we feel we need to shoulder our responsibilities.  But we are not left to our own devices. God is our shepherd. Like a shepherd, he guides us to where we can get nourishment, and protects us from dangers we aren’t able to cope with and may not even be aware of. A shepherd brings back the wanderers and even prods the stragglers who lag behind, to keep them moving toward where he knows they need to be for their own well-being.

And because our shepherd is all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving, He provides everything we need. This has been my mantra for the last few weeks as I walk, day by day, through a brand new challenge in my life. When I feel inadequate, I repeat this affirmation. It has not failed to give me the reassurance, comfort, and courage I need to do the next thing at hand and trust the end result to my Shepherd.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you. Thank you for giving me everything I need today.

Reflection for sharing:  How do you need God to shepherd you today? What needs do you think God sees for you today? Can you affirm that, just for today, you have everything you need by God’s grace?