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.

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.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my 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 forever.

ME: “I shall not want.” What does that mean?

JESUS: Angela, you shall not lack anything that is necessary for life. 

ME: But what about those things that are necessary for happiness?

JESUS: Are they? Are they really necessary? I give you joy, which is better than happiness.

ME: But what about those things that are necessary for fulfillment?

JESUS: Are they? Are they really necessary? You are complete in Me.

ME: But what about those things that are necessary for satisfaction?

JESUS: Let your satisfaction be in Me. Sometimes I allow you to feel an emptiness so that you will come to Me and let Me fill you. I alone love you with an everlasting love. No one else can satisfy you the way I can because no one else knows or loves you the way I do. 

ME: But, Lord—

JESUS: No more ‘buts.’ Just follow Me. I am the Good Shepherd. I am your Shepherd, and you are my lamb. The lamb knows only to follow the Shepherd. Everything else is My responsibility. If you follow Me, you will have no regrets, and you shall not want any good thing. You have My Word.

ME: Yes, Lord.

This was my conversation with the Lord on the morning of July 16th. My final answer, “Yes, Lord,” should have been one of submission, but just then it was only one of resignation. I cannot argue with my Savior, but I don’t yet see things the way He does. I feel as though I’m missing out on certain of life’s pleasures, and I wonder why He chooses to withhold them from me. Yet in my heart I already know the answer. He wants me to cling to Him with all my being, just as I’ve told others to do.

Written July 16, 2017
Photo courtesy of Pixabay