The Lord Is My Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1.

This verse seems simple, but it carries a deep challenge: who is really guiding your life? Many people run after approval, status, image, quick achievements, as if those things could fill the emptiness inside. But the more we chase these “false pastures,” the more tired and empty we become. When David said, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he was declaring: “I don’t live by what I see, desire, or fear… I live led by God.” The question is: who has been your shepherd lately?

The truth is, we all follow someone or something—whether we notice it or not. Some follow the expectations of others; some follow their impulses; others follow anxiety, insecurity, or the need for control. But none of these “shepherds” lead to safety. Only God leads us to green pastures, and only He can restore what has been broken inside us. Maybe you’re exhausted, emotionally drained, feeling lost or without direction, and still trying to guide yourself. But strong young people aren’t those who handle everything alone; wise young people are those who recognize their need for the true Shepherd.

And the best part? God doesn’t require you to already be strong before He guides you. He meets you in the valley. He calls you by name. He takes your hand even when you don’t know where you’re going. He doesn’t promise the absence of problems, but He promises His constant presence. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” And maybe what you lack most today isn’t something external—it’s surrender. It’s trust. It’s allowing God to truly be the Shepherd of your life.

Today, God calls you to a real decision: stop being guided by hurry, by fear, by your past, or by temporary desires, and start walking guided by Him. He promises: “You will lack nothing.” Not because everything will go your way, but because He Himself will be everything you need. If you feel far from His care, His purpose, and His direction, today is the day to return. Today is the day to hand over the staff of your life to the Shepherd who never fails.

If today you want to say to God, “Lord, take control of my life; guide my steps; I want to be Your sheep and trust in You,” then tell Him that right now, just as you are, right where you are. He hears you. He is calling you. And He never abandons those who choose to follow Him.

My God! My God!

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1.

When David wrote this, it wasn’t just a cry of frustration; it revealed the heart of someone who felt God was distant. And when Jesus repeated these words on the cross, He showed that even the Son of God experienced deep abandonment. Perhaps you’ve felt this darkness too, when your prayers seem unheard. It’s a cry from the soul: “Why?” But the psalm doesn’t end there.

The pain is real, intense, almost suffocating. The psalmist speaks of a groaning so deep it can only be expressed in tears. Yet, he still says: “My God.” Faith fights against fear. He doesn’t understand the silence, but he still believes he belongs to God. Maybe you are there too — lost, hurting, weary, yet holding on to that small thread of hope that the Father has not let go. He never lets go. The psalm shows suffering, but it also shows that God hears, responds, and acts.

By verse 22, the tone shifts: praise, hope, and victory break through. The dark night meets the dawn. God enters the scene, turning chaos into testimony, pain into life, silence into answers, and apparent abandonment into restoration and promise.

Perhaps you are still in the first verses — in the “whys,” in the despair. But God calls you to trust that the second part exists. That your chapter doesn’t end where you are now. That what seems like defeat can become praise. He hears even the quietest whisper and is already preparing the next verse of your story.

Today, hand over your groaning — your pain, struggle, and weakness — into God’s hands. Say: “My God.” Even in the darkness, trust that the turnaround is coming. The God who heard David and Jesus is hearing you now.

Protected by the Name That Sustains

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” — Psalm 20:1.

When the psalmist speaks of “the day of trouble,” he is not talking about imaginary fears or distant pain. He is speaking of a real moment, a real heart, standing before a real battle. And maybe that’s exactly where you are today — not holding a sword, but carrying a tired mind, unseen worries, and battles that feel far bigger than you. Scripture does not minimize your trouble; it brings it honestly before God as a cry He is ready to hear.

The verse says, “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” That name matters. Jacob was not strong, stable, or perfect. He was flawed, afraid, and often running. Yet God did not protect him because he was good, but because God was faithful. This reminds us that our protection does not come from our strength, our achievements, or our spiritual performance. It comes from who God is — the One who sustains, who keeps, who remains faithful even when we are not.

Psalm 20 was sung as the people watched their king walk toward battle. They prayed for God’s answer and protection. But this prayer is also for you today. Many trust in “chariots and horses” — in their own ability, resources, plans, or control. But when the soul grows heavy, those things fall short. Those who trust in the Lord, the psalm says, are the ones who stand firm.

Today God invites you to stop carrying everything alone. Bring Him your trouble. Let Him hear your cry. Place this battle in His hands. Pray quietly where you are:

“Lord, I trust in Your name. Hold me up and make me stand again.”

May today be the day you walk in the strength of the God who truly hears you.