Many people have whispered these words in moments of peace, and just as often in moments of fear: “The Lord is my shepherd.” I have heard them prayed beside hospital beds, spoken at funerals, and repeated quietly by those who feel lost or overwhelmed. It is a simple sentence, yet it carries a tenderness that reaches straight into the human heart.
These words come from Psalm 23, a prayer written by King David, who himself had once been a shepherd. He knew the patience it takes to guide sheep, the vigilance required to protect them, and the closeness between shepherd and flock. When David calls the Lord his shepherd, he is saying something deeply personal: God is not distant. God is involved. God knows me.
To say “The Lord is my shepherd” means we are not left to wander alone. A shepherd walks ahead, chooses safe paths, searches for lost sheep, and stays through the dark nights. In the same way, God guides our steps even when we cannot see the road clearly. The psalm does not promise a life without valleys, but it promises a Presence that never abandons us within them.
For us today, this image invites trust. We live in a world that tells us we must control everything ourselves. Yet faith gently asks us to release that burden and allow God to lead. When we say these words with honesty, we are placing our lives into His hands—believing that even when we do not understand where He is leading us, His love is wiser than our fear.
A Closing Reflection
If you feel tired or uncertain today, speak this line slowly: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Let it remind you that you are seen, protected, and loved more deeply than you know. Sometimes faith begins not with answers, but with resting in the care of the One who leads us home.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
