Hey friends, as we approach Thanksgiving, I want to help tune our hearts to gratitude by looking at one of the most beloved passages in Scripture - Psalm 23. In these familiar words, we'll find deep reasons for thanksgiving, no matter our circumstances.
"Only a God who has no needs can meet all of ours." – Harry Walls
Psalm 23:1-6
"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 will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Before we rush past these familiar words, let's pause to consider who our Shepherd is. When David writes "The LORD," he's using God's covenant name - Yahweh. This is the self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal God who upholds the universe by the word of His power. The same God who commands lightning where to strike and binds the chains of stars has chosen to be your Shepherd.
And notice how personal this relationship is - "my shepherd," "my soul." This isn't just about abstract truth; it's about intimate relationship. The Good Shepherd knows each of His sheep by name. You're not just one in the crowd to Him. Every tear, every fear, every need - He knows them all.
David wrote this after experiencing betrayal, loss, and heartache, yet he still found reasons for profound gratitude. Why? Because he understood that this Shepherd was always with him - in green pastures and dark valleys alike. When we're in the valley, that's often when we sense His presence most keenly. The darker the shadow, the closer the Shepherd.
But the deepest reason for thanksgiving is found in understanding that Jesus became the Lamb who was slain so He could be our Shepherd. Turn back one page to Psalm 22, and you'll hear the cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" On the cross, He was forsaken so that He could promise us "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Our cup overflows because His cup of suffering was fully drained.
How has God shown Himself to be your shepherd in specific ways this year?
What "green pastures" or "still waters" has He led you to?
Even if you're in a "valley" right now, how can you practice thanksgiving for His presence with you?
True thanksgiving flows from knowing that the Shepherd who leads you is the Lamb who died for you, and His goodness and mercy pursue you every single day.
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis