Resting Daily in the Arms of God-A short reflection on Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd.”  These are the opening lines of one of, if not the most, well known pieces of scripture.  Look at this picture of a shepherd caring for her sheep.  The love just pours out of this picture.  Many times we reserve the 23^rd Psalm as a funeral text.  We miss out on much when we reserve it for only that time.  Certainly the 23^rd Psalm is a comfort to an aching and grieving heart but God is our Shepherd every day, every moment.  The imagery of the 23^rd Psalm describes the daily duties of a Shepherd caring for the sheep.  Daily, we are in God’s loving care.  Daily, he provides us with rest.  Daily, he uses his rod and his staff to keep us on the path of safety and life and from the perils that await us if we step over a cliff.  Yes, in those darkest moments of life whether that be death or some other darkness that awaits us, God is there, present, loving us, holding us tight.  Friend if this is not the God that you know, let’s talk.  Let’s share a meal, get to know one another and let me introduce me to my Shepherd.  There is no place I would rather be than resting in the protection of his loving arms.