Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Not because it’s wrong to want, but because in Christ- there’s no need for it.
It was the summer after my senior year of high school when this first resonated with me in an unforgettable way. I was serving at Camp Victory as a counselor, studying through each verse of this Psalm. I remember at that time in my life, there was a search for contentment that the words of these verses spoke to very intentionally.
College began, and a whirlwind of changes happened in my life. Suddenly my normal was turned upside down, in both a beautiful and terrifying way. A year and a half later I sat in the lone coffee shop of Troy, Alabama, and flipped open to these exact same words.
I remember so vividly those last few months of high school when I was longing for a new pace. I anxiously waited for the day that my home was shared with a college home. Now that I have lived in that reality for some time now, and sit at the end of yet another semester, Psalm 23 forced me into a reflection time of the Lord’s presence in my life in this season.
A constant theme since that first summer out of high school for me has been the battle being content. For the first time in my life I see the dawn breaking on an overwhelmingly satisfying contentment in just Jesus. A contentment that stretches beyond my circumstances, beyond my desires, beyond my needs, to a place of rest in daily walk with my Savior. So many lessons are yet to be learned and I know I still have room to grow, but to look back over the process of this journey from where I was to where I’m going almost drops me to my knees instantly.
At the beginning of this semester I read Katie Majors’ new book, “Daring to Hope.” In the book, Katie talked about her battle against the situations she was facing and her ability to be content in the Lord no matter what each new day brought her way. She began writing on sticky notes things she saw as blessings from the Lord- the trials and tears, along with the beauty and wonders. She hung them all over her kitchen so daily she would be reminded of the Lord’s constant presence in every aspect of her life. I adopted the practice in my own life. Every morning I sit on my dorm floor to get ready in front of a mirror hung on my door. It’s where I start my day, so I thought I’d begin using the time as Katie did to remind myself of all that the Lord was doing in my life. Quickly the door began to fill up with bright pink sticky notes with anything and everything I saw the presence of the Lord in. Every morning I sit in that same place and see the Lord’s faithful hand on my life- and each morning I’m reminded that He is providing just what I need, exactly when I need it, in Himself.
This morning I sit in my dorm room, with only moments left before it’s time to lock the door behind me, close out my third semester at Troy U, and head home. The word ringing true in my thoughts as I think back over this semester is faithful. I’ve seen the Lord’s faithfulness in the days of good, the days of trial, the days of questioning, and the days of rejoicing trough this entire season of my life. So many lessons have been learned, so many lessons are yet to be learned. My time in college has shown me so evidently how broken I am in sin, how much work there is to do on my heart, and sometimes it’s overwhelming how much I feel like I just can’t get things right. But with that humbling truth has come a wave of grace, mercy, and love washed over every inch of shame and guilt- because I know that He is working, I know that He is here. It is His sacrifice that now defines my life. I’ve learned a raw dependence on the Lord, and experienced my absolute need for Him in a way I am so thankful for. I’m learning every day on this journey of life how good He is. When I begin to see everything else around me in the light of that goodness, I shall not want.
Dear Abba Father,
All my praises are fixed towards you. Thank you for teaching me that you not only supply my every need, but my every want.
Love,
Em
Remember + Rejoice 