The Shepherd Leads through the Valley

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

As a mother knows the cry of her child amidst a riot of sound, and blocks out all sound except that of her child, the Word tells us the good shepherd Jesus, hears our voices when we call out to him.

Often I think of the sweet Border collie who helped me raise my son. By virtue of her breeding she had the heart of a shepherd. Every evening at 8:30 she began sheep-herding my son to bed. If he woke during the night crying, she was immediately at my bedside barking loudly. She was always close at his side.

The work and the heart of the good shepherd is to guard, protect and comfort us. As we hear and know the voice of our good shepherd we become confident and restful in his care. He picks us up and carries us through the darkest valleys, he pulls us back from the slippery slope when we have wandered too far.

Up and over his strong shoulders we go, back into the shelter of his love and protection where goodness and mercy follow us.  I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:14 (NIV)

Today's devotion is written by Diane Ward.  Diane is guest posting today and in May will begin writing the Tuesday devotion on this site.