FEBRUARY 16, 2025

 

A Poem Inspired by Psalm 23

I wrote this poem last summer at camp, during our spiritual retreat halfway through the summer. They told all of us to go outside and work on a creative way to kind of process through everything we were learning. I tend to overthink and stress when it comes to creative elements like this, and it makes it feel like more of a task than it should. I tend to think I am not super creative and other people will do something better or cooler than I can, so I had reserved in my mind to just leave it alone and not pressure myself to do a creative element at all. But then, as I was sitting outside, reading through John 10, about Jesus being the Good Shepherd, and His sheep knowing the sound of His voice, it was reminiscent to me of Psalm 23, which also speaks of the Lord being our shepherd. I can't really explain what happened next other than I sat and looked around, and felt compelled to write. I would pause every now and again while writing to feel out all the words that were coming to me, and then I would keep going. This poem is the product of my thoughts and what I believe God was saying to me in those moments.

"Yahweh shepherds me; I lack nothing."

I lack NOTHING.

But is that really true?

When I look at my heart and then look at You

Do I truly lack nothing, or is there more to pursue?

In moments like this, all I see is You,

You, my shepherd, my savior, my friend

The One I know wins in the end...

My heart longs for You

But then, there's other things too...

A husband, a job, friends, security

I run to those things in my mind daily.

Yet running behind me, beside me, before me:

Your goodness, Your mercy, and then I think

Surely, this is where I find my peace:

NOT in the husband, job, friends or fantasy,

But in the presence of my enemies,

The shadow of death,

Where the promise of You is in every breath.

I lack nothing.

I lack nothing.

Because the green pastures and waters of rest

Only come for the sheep when they're at their best

And where is that?

When is that?

WHO is that?

You.

My shepherd, my savior, my friend,

The One I know wins in the end...

Yahweh.

Psalm 23: 

"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. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."