It would be hard to find a more tender picture of what it means to be led by God than Psalm 23. This chapter may be the most recognized passage in the Bible. It is certainly the most known and loved of the psalms. It is familiar to both believers and unbelievers. It’s recognized by literary experts. It’s posted on the walls of businesses, hospitals, churches, and homes. But Psalm 23 is especially loved by those who grieve. Perhaps there is no time when we more greatly crave the presence and leading of the Good Shepherd than when we walk through the valley of grief. 

Every person’s journey through grief is unique, because every grief is unique. Grief comes in all shapes and sizes, and it comes as a result of any type of loss.

Yet, what matters more than the individual specifics of our journey through grief is with whom we take the journey. When we are led on that journey by the Good Shepherd, we will experience the comfort of God in three powerful ways.

1. The Provision of the Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1–3).

David began Psalm 23 with five simple words: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Nearly a thousand years after David made this declaration, Jesus acknowledged Himself as our “good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14–15). With Christ as our Shepherd, we “shall not want,” for He has provided every need through His work on the cross. Especially in our grief, we find that He supplies everything essential for our souls.

Well-cared-for sheep are peaceful sheep; it’s what makes scenes of sheep so idyllic—they rest under their shepherd’s provision. The ultimate rest for our souls is in Jesus. In times of grief, physical rest may or may not come easily. But we can always turn our heavy, tired souls to the Lord and find rest in Him.

Jesus is the restorer of our souls. Sometimes, we assume that Christians who walk closely with the Lord shouldn’t experience times when they need restoration of the soul. But this is a mistaken assumption. David himself knew what it was to need his Shepherd’s restoration. There were times he was afraid, overwhelmed, and “cast down.” Yet, in those moments, he prayed, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

2. The Presence of the Shepherd

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

The valley of grief is dark, foreboding, and uncertain. And every type of grief is fraught with danger. Satan lurks in the shadows to shoot at us with his fiery darts of doubt or to devour us through temptation and sin. This is why we must accept the invitation to depend upon our Shepherd as He leads us through this journey of grief.

When we are following our Shepherd, we can be assured that every path on which He leads us is for our ultimate good. Though we cannot always see the way ahead, as long as we are following the Shepherd, we can know that we are on the right path.

We may not always perceive the presence of our Shepherd in the midst of the valley, but He is always with us—leading, guiding, and protecting. He has promised, “ . . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

Perhaps the most comforting word of Psalm 23:4 is the simple preposition through. Our Shepherd does not lead us to the valley of the shadow of death and then abandon us. He leads us through. 

Grief is a journey, but it is not a destination. The destination is still ahead. So, when you are in the valley of grief, keep walking. Keep following your Shepherd. And keep trusting in His presence to guide you.

3. The Promises of the Shepherd

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23:5–6).

As we come to the end of Psalm 23, we find that the shepherd has led his flock through the valley of the shadow of death and out into an open plateau. Here they discover the pastures to which he had been leading them when he brought them through the valley.

The blessings the sheep experience here are not meager but lavish. The shepherd not only prepares the pasture, but he anoints their heads with oil to protect them from insects and soothe cuts or scrapes. No wonder David exclaimed here, “My cup runneth over.” The fullness of his Shepherd’s blessings overwhelmed him with satisfaction.

We, too, experience the overwhelming blessings of God. Through Jesus, we have received “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Recognizing God’s present kindness, even in grief, enables us to believe in the brighter future He has promised, even when we cannot yet see it.

As David concluded his psalm, he looked ahead with confident expectation: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23:6).

Because Jesus laid down His life for us, we can rest assured that His goodness and mercy will accompany us every day, even through dark valleys, until we see Him face to face.

Perhaps the best decision you can make as you navigate grief is to choose, daily, to follow your Shepherd—one step at a time. 

He is a Good Shepherd, and He will lead you through.

This article appears in the latest edition of The Baptist Voice. To view the digital edition, click here.