The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. Ps. 23:1-3a
I have had these verses memorized since I was a little girl, and I always thought about the literal sheep in a pasture when I read this Psalm. I never really applied it to myself. But when my husband died, and I was raising young children on my own, it became a lifeline for me, and I can see how God has gently led me through difficulty to restore healing and joy.
I have seen the Lord provide in so many ways.
While losing a husband and being a single mom are not easy, God has always made sure we had our needs met.
- He provided for us financially in ways I didn’t expect.
- God helped me grow my piano studio and provided me with the right number of students to help make ends meet.
- Our house had been completed just weeks before Jon’s diagnosis, so we had a beautiful place to live with a big yard.
- God provided me with loving and caring friends and family.
- Jon made sure our cars were in good working order, and I was able to keep those two vehicles long after he passed.
God promises to meet our needs. Matthew 6:26-34
The Lord led me to places where I could rest and heal.
- Sometimes I didn’t want to go. I was afraid of the unknown.
- I got used to the darkness and thought it was here to stay.
- He gently prodded me to a better place that was still and quiet.
- He nourished my soul in a green pasture where I could heal and thrive.
God promises that we can find rest for our souls by leaning on and learning from Him. Matthew 11:28-30
My soul was restored because He led me where I needed to go, even if I couldn’t see it at the time.
- He led us to my parents house for a couple of months to rest.
- He gently changed my heart while we were there, so I was ready and willing to move closer to family.
- He provided a quiet, peaceful place in the form of a little house nearby my folks, where healing could take place.
We don’t need to be anxious. God’s peace will guard our hearts. Philippians 4:6&7
My journey through grief and healing has been a testament to God's provision and guidance. Through financial provision, supportive relationships, and leading us to places of rest and healing, God has fulfilled His promise to meet our needs and restore my soul.
You can trust Him and find rest in His presence. Know that He will always lead you in the right direction. May you find peace in surrendering your anxieties to God and allowing His peace to guard your hearts.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11.
God is good!