He Restores My Soul: Finding Rest in Psalm 23

I’m tired. 

And I have a sneaking suspicion you are, too. 

From constant connection to a deeply divided country, our modern world can be emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually exhausting. So, where do we turn as believers when our souls are weary? 

To God and his Word. It’s a Sunday School answer, but that doesn’t make it any less true. 

If you’re feeling tired, you’re not alone. And Psalm 23 shows us how. 

Trusting Our Shepherd

The Scripture: The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. (Ps. 23:1)

The Promise: God takes care of his children. When our souls are weary, the first step is turning toward the one who loves and leads us. If it matters to us, it matters to him, and he is faithful to meet us where we are and provide what we need. 

He Offers Us Peace in the Chaos

The Scripture: He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Ps. 23:2-3)

The Promise: The Lord knows we need rest and offers it to us. He renews our strength. We live in a world that tells us to just keep going, to keep pushing through; we serve a Savior who invites us to lie down and let God take care of us. You can continue trying to push through in your own strength or you can stop your striving and rest, allowing God to lead you along the right paths instead of trying to find them on your own. 

You Are Not Alone

The Scripture: Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4)

The Promise: In the darkest seasons of your life, he is near. The psalm acknowledges that seasons of deep grief, anxiety, uncertainty and depression are a certainty in our lives. Amid danger, isolation and enemy attacks, David proclaimed he would not be afraid—not because the situations weren’t scary but because God was near. We’re not called to bravado or pretending everything is OK when it’s not; we’re invited to trust the Shepherd. 

He Will Protect You 

The Scripture: Your rod and your staff—they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4b) 

The Promise: He will protect you. When you don’t know the way forward, he does. David, a shepherd himself, listed a couple of the tools a shepherd always kept with him: a rod and a staff. The rod was a weapon the shepherd used to fend off wild animals, while the shepherd’s staff was a tool he used to guide and correct sheep, drawing them back to the right path when they threatened to wander away. In the dark valleys of our lives, God knows the way forward. He will protect us, and he will guide us, even when we can’t see the path and don’t know which way to turn. 

He Will Bless You 

The Scripture: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Ps. 23:5)

The Promise: He doesn’t always remove the enemies, but God can and will bless you in their presence. Sometimes, the difficulty doesn’t get magically erased right out of our lives, but God prepares a feast on the battlefield for us. Even in the deepest valleys, he is faithful to give us joy in the face of fear. 

He Will Refresh You 

The Scripture: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:5b)

The Promise: He will tenderly and generously care for you. In the ancient world, anointing symbolized many things, including welcome, healing and blessing or consecration. To describe God as anointing him, David pictured God as the one who deeply cares for us, refreshing, restoring and honoring us, even when we are weary. And he does it generously, giving more than you can hold. True rest comes from trusting the one who is capable of giving more than we can hold, not a race to get more and more. 

He Pursues You with His Love and Mercy

The Scripture: Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life (Ps. 23:6a)

The Promise: He doesn’t just bless you; he pursues you with love and mercy. Sometimes translated “follow,” the original Hebrew word here is more correctly translated “pursue” or “chase.” So God’s goodness and his faithful, covenant love aren’t just nice feelings. They’re powerful proof of his presence, and he pursues you with them, every day. When you’re weary, rest in this truth and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the ways God is pursuing you.

He Gives You a Home

The Scripture: I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live (Ps. 23:6)

The Promise: He is your home. Think about that feeling you get when you come home late at night and someone you love has left the porch or living room light on for you. Better yet, they waited up for you. God promises us a forever rest and eternal peace, one that the trials and division of this world can’t tarnish, steal or destroy. He will give you rest now, but he also promises us a rest that never fades.