A few weeks back, a circumstance presented itself – just one more, in a long line of challenges since the death of my dad 15 months past. I had a bout with appendicitis. Although the intensity of the experience was not nearly as dramatic as my “dark night”, or the death of my dad…. it was tough.
And on one particular night while still in the hospital, I
hit a point of deep discouragement. And the Lord brought me back to Psalm 23 in an intriguing
form of encouragement. He invited me to say it to Him, in my own words, as a
prayer of thanksgiving; as if my life was already complete.
This is what I prayed:
“You Lord, were always my Shepherd. Throughout my life You
caused me to lie down, repeatedly in soft, green pastures. You led me beside peaceful,
still waters. And You lovingly and gently stored, and re-stored my soul.This is what I prayed:
Even though I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I have feared absolutely nothing, because You are still with me.
Your rod and Your staff, although hard, comforted me many times. As I knew that those whom You love You discipline.
More than once You laid out a feasting table for me to sit at in the very presence of the enemy of my soul.
Over and over, You abundantly anointed my head with oil; my cup overflowed.
Surely goodness and mercy did more than follow me all the days of my earthly life. I not only lived on this earth in Your presence. But am now living in it with You, forever.”
The comfort I was absorbed in as I chose each word was profound.
To thankfully pray my version of Psalm 23 to Him as if I had actually entered eternity
gifted me with another breathtaking shaft of light. He shed peace on my
past, recent past and future. And He filled me once again, with a quiet calm regarding
my present situation.
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