Psalm 23 may be one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, and many pastors claim it’s the most requested Psalm for funeral services. However, familiarity can cause us to overlook this psalm’s meaning and intimacy.

David begins: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) Not a shepherd. Not merely the shepherd, but “my shepherd”. Because the Lord is his Shepherd, David can rest in green pastures, walk beside still waters, and trust his shepherd to lead along the right paths.

But then the scenery changes as we read/pray further down in the psalm. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) I love what happens here. David has been talking about God: He makes me. He leads me. He restores me. But when David enters the valley, he begins talking to God: “You are with me.” The valley makes the conversation personal.

I understand that. I have had valleys of my own—seasons I never would have chosen, losses I didn’t want to experience, prayers that weren’t answered the way I hoped, and paths I would gladly have walked around rather than through. But in those places, what I know about God becomes deeply personal. You are with me. You have not left me. You are still my Shepherd.

Psalm 23 never promises that following the Shepherd means avoiding the valley. It promises something better: we don’t walk through it alone. And I especially love that little word through. The valley is something we walk through, not somewhere we are meant to stay. The valley is not the destination.

David ends the psalm by looking beyond the valley:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23:6)

The Shepherd who leads me beside still waters is the same Shepherd who walks beside me through the darkest valley. I may not know how long the valley will last. I may not understand why the path leads through it. And I may not be able to see what waits on the other side. But I  don’t have to know the whole path, because I know my Shepherd, and He knows the way through.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being my Shepherd. When the path is peaceful, keep me close to You. When it leads through a valley, remind me that I am not walking alone. Help me trust Your presence, Your guidance, and Your goodness every step of the way. Amen.