The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside quiet waters.

Even when I go through the darkest valley...

Psalms 23:1-2, 4

Places. 

David creates these little pictures of places;

Green pastures.

For a sheep this would be nourishment, plenty, goodness.

Rest.

Quiet waters.

No rushing rivers here. A place to drink. 

To rest.

The dark valley.

Unknown, foreboding, dark, feels difficult, frightening.

A place we'd rather avoid.

I wonder whether when we're in the dark valley that our Good Shepherd can find patches of green pasture. Even there, there's nourishment and goodness to be found. 

I wonder whether there's still waters, places to drink and rest, even when we're in the valley. 

In my sheepness I can walk right past places of rest & nourishment.

We need the Good Shepherd to lead, to let us rest, find nourishment, even though, even when we're in the dark valley.

#psalms

#psalm23

#eventhough

#places

#rest