Can I Trust the Lord to Supply My Needs?

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved Scriptures in the entire Bible. Its simple, yet profound truths have provided comfort to millions for three millennia. My friends have plenty of ideas about what King David meant when he wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

"The Lord has been my shepherd when I got my tooth knocked out," says Kinsey, age 11. "He was there to comfort me. He kept me safe."

Sheep receive comfort from hearing their shepherd's voice. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls his sheep by name and sacrifices his life for them (John 10). God's people should expect to hear God's voice when they meditate upon Scripture and follow the Good Shepherd with a whole heart.

"A shepherd sings to his sheep," says Katlin, 10. The Psalms were originally sung. It's easy to imagine David the shepherd boy singing Psalm 23 as he plucked his harp in the midst of his flock under the stars of the Judean hill country.

"Every time you go to the store, you don't have to ask for everything," says Meredith, 6. Or as Haleigh, 9, says: "He will supply every need. I should realize that there is a big difference between my needs and wants."

"We shouldn't want to be without him!" says Derek, 9, who takes us to the heart of the matter. "I think it means we are his sheep, and we don't know anything," adds Olivia, 8.

Of all livestock, sheep require the most care. Without a shepherd, sheep are vulnerable and easy prey for predators. Sheep that fall down with a full coat of wool are said to be "cast." They can't even stand up on their own without help from their shepherd.

OK, sheep are dumb. But that's only half the story. There's more. The prophet Isaiah wrote: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6).

Not only are we dumb like sheep; we've taken a wrong path. But the Good Shepherd has made provision, says Nicole, 10: "He will lead you to make right choices. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He keeps you away from danger, and he loves you so much he gave his life for you. If we believe in him, we will go to a place where there are no deaths, no sicknesses and no sin."

The prophet Isaiah also wrote, "And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

"A shepherd will protect his sheep," says Sara, 9. "It's just like having kids wander off. They need a dad to protect them."

Yes, we're good at wandering off on our own trails. After denying the Lord Jesus for the third time during his trial, the Apostle Peter was "cast" or knocked off his feet by doubt, self-pity and guilt.

Three times, the Good Shepherd asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Three times, Peter affirmed his love for the Lord. Twice, the Lord replied, "Feed my sheep," and once, he said, "Shepherd my sheep" (John 21:15-17).

The Lord knows exactly what is needed to restore us to fellowship with him and useful service to others when we're cast down and depressed over real or imagined failures. Those who stay close to the shepherd will experience his protection and provision.

The following variation of Psalm 23:1 from an anonymous 6-year-old might help the next time failure knocks you down: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall want him."

Point to ponder: Nothing in this life can meet our needs and wants like fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture to remember: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1).

Question to consider: Are you looking to the Lord to fulfill your heart's deepest desires?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more articles like this one, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/ColumnArchive.aspx.  The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families.  See Carey’s Kid TV Interviews. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.

Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version. 

Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving