Words of Grace | Psalm 23 | He Restores My Soul

Psalm 23 - “He Restores My Soul”

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul…” (Ps. 23:1-3).

Every Memorial Day weekend, a number of people travel to “get away” from the hustle and bustle, the stress and demands of life. Some of them visit family and friends. Others escape to a secluded area near trees and mountains or bodies of water.

Why are we so drawn to mountains, forests, and oceans when we choose a vacation destination? Why does sitting by a lake for an hour or more leave us relaxed? Rabbi Harold Kushner says: “God’s world, decorated in blues and greens, calms us, gently bathing our eyes with quiet, low-intensity colors. We spend so much of our lives in a man-made environment, with its artificial lighting and artificial cooling and heating, bright neon signs and color television programs, that when we get a day off…we instinctively feel the need to find our way to God’s world with its more restful palette.” That’s so true!

The invention of electricity has given us the power to rule the night as we rule the day, the ability to dispel darkness leading to our sense of mastery over the world, but “in the process it alienated many of us from the natural world. We spend more of our waking hours under bright lights than we do in God's world of blue skies and green grass” (Kushner).

That is part of the reason why we find Psalm 23 so captivating. It expresses in so few words not just our need for rest, but the deep longing of the human heart for true profound and long-lasting rest where God restores our soul.

Take some time today, even in the middle of your busy schedule, to step outside and take in God’s creation for at least a few minutes before rushing off to your next meeting, class, or activity.

Whether you live in the city or country, look upon God’s creation and listen for His voice. Ask Him what He wants you to know as you see all the wonders of His creation. Let the beauty and mystery of all God’s creation fill you with a deeper longing to know your heavenly Father. Allow your heart to be stirred as you remember God’s beauty and majesty expressed in all creation.

Until next time, may the goodness and mercy of God follow you all the moments of this day!