How Psalm 23 Guides Us Through Life’s Valleys
We live in a broken world, and as a result of that, life can be hard. I become more aware of this every time I turn on our television or scroll social media. All over the world, people are suffering from famine, wars, people being killed, natural disasters, and even in our own lives with the struggles that we face. It can be discouraging when we are surrounded by so much pain. I often wonder how we can face hard times in our own lives without completely shutting down and isolating ourselves from the world. If I am honest, who wants to deal with all of it? It seems too overwhelming. We need something that we can hold on to, or a way that we can confidently face each day, even when hard times come. Thankfully, we can find the help we need right in the pages of our Bibles.
Psalm 23 is a great place to start when we are looking for something to guide us through life’s valleys. This well-known psalm is written from the perspective of King David, who has been through or is going through a trial in his life. Though it has been difficult, he reminds us that whatever we go through, the Lord is with us. We can trust that he will not leave us and will give us everything that we need. This is a perspective that all of us can have.
Here are some ways that Psalm 23 guides us through life’s valleys:
Psalm 23 Reminds Us That the Lord Will Give Us All We Need
Right away in the first verse of Psalm 23, the writer says, “I have all that I need.” This is such a strong statement of trust in the Lord. Even when we go through the hardest of times, we will have everything that we need. In fact, the Lord does not withhold any good thing from us. In verse 5, it says, “My cup overflows with blessings.” To be going through a trial and to be able to say this is so comforting. It would be different if we were not taken care of at all, but it is completely the opposite. The writer feels like he has been given everything that he needs and more.
As each one of us faces trials, we will be given all that we need. We do not need to be afraid; we can confidently rely on the Lord all the time. It may not be easy, but we can trust the one who gives us these promises.
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The Lord Gives Us Peace and Renews Our Strength
When I find myself going through hard times, my anxiety seems to go up, and my strength diminishes. I have a tendency to rely on my own abilities instead of on the Lord. I am becoming more and more aware of how I need him, especially when going through trials.
I love that in verses 2 and 3 of this Psalm, having peace and strength are both mentioned, almost like they go together. In verse 2, it says, “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful waters.” When we stop looking to ourselves and begin to trust the Lord, that is when peace and rest come. So many times we strive to do more or try to control things that it leads to anxiety. If only we would let go and trust our shepherd that he is good, and that he will lead us into a more peaceful and restful place. He knows better than we do, and even if it doesn’t make sense, we can trust him.
Verse 3 says that “He renews our strength.” There have been many times when I have needed strength to get through a trial that I was experiencing. Not every trial is short-lived; it could go on for longer than we expect. When we are in the middle of it for a long time, we can get to a point where we don’t feel like we have much left. I know I have been there more than once. It’s at this point where there may not be any option other than to cry out to the Lord for help. He will supply. There has never been a time when he has not provided for me. He will do the same for you. He renews our strength when we walk through the valleys.
As We Go Through the Valley, We Are Protected, Comforted, and Given Guidance
When we are in the midst of a trial, God is right there with us, walking through it. In Psalm 23:4, at the end of the verse, it says, “Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Right in this verse, we are told that he protects and comforts us as we walk through our valleys. It can be so easy to think that he leaves us to face it alone, but that is not the case. In every moment and every step, he is right there with us. His hand is on every single thing that happens to us, protecting us. When we are in our worst moments, the Lord comforts us. He doesn’t expect us to be okay all the time, but instead, he tells us to come to him with all of our cries and concerns. The thing that I find most comforting is that Jesus experienced trials himself, so he knows exactly what we are going through. Our God is always protecting us and comforting us in the midst of hard times.
We may not know what to do with our suffering or the reasons behind it, but the Lord also promises to guide us through it. In the second part of verse 3, we are told that, “He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” We can be sure that he is guiding us through the valley; we are not walking blindly. I imagine Jesus walking right next to us, hand in hand, showing us the right way to go. This does mean that we need to ask him to guide us. This is one of those areas where we can try to do it on our own, or we can pause and ask him to guide us. He offers everything that we need; we need to remember to ask for help. He does not force us; he lovingly walks with us.
At the end of Psalm 23, David confidently states, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever (Vs. 6).” He is confident in the Lord, knows he is loved and taken care of even when he is in the valley. What a great example that we can model our lives after. David had his share of trials during his lifetime, but if he knew all of this about God, we can as well.
This is why Psalm 23 is a good guide for when we are going through valleys. We will experience the valleys; it's just a matter of when. If we feel like we are prepared, it will change how we go through them. The valleys are hard, but they are where we grow if we allow the Lord to use them. He is with us, friends. We aren’t alone. We have everything we need to face it.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ippei Naoi
Originally published August 15, 2025.
