Do We Trust God's Leadership?

A Short Meditation on Jesus the Shepherd in Psalm 23 & John 10

Author

Ryan Patrick Murphy
February 28, 2025

Have you ever struggled with anxiety or fear of the future?

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the future, where things are going, or what could happen, I turn to the words of Psalm 23.

David writes:

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2  He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3  he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
 for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:1-3, NRSVUE

David highlights at least four characteristics of Yahweh that I find comfort in. The Lord is our:

  • Provider (“I shall not want” or, in the NIV, “I lack nothing”)

  • Shepherd-Leader (“He leads me beside still waters…He leads me in right paths”)

  • Restorer (“He restores my soul”)

I love that in these first few verses of Psalm 23, the primary place that Yahweh the Shepherd-Leader is leading us is towards rest, green pastures, and stillness.

Do we trust that God can lead us to the rest and restoration we need, or do we primarily think about God’s leadership more in terms of output and activity?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus echoes Psalm 23 and says:

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15, NRSVUE

27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27, NRSVUE

How profound! Jesus quotes Psalm 23 and says that he is the embodiment Yahweh the Shepherd!

Jesus adds nuance and depth to the characteristics of God revealed in Psalm 23. Jesus, our Shepherd-Leader:

  • Knows what’s best for us and

  • Speaks to us

This is profoundly good news, especially if we find ourselves facing anxiety and fear of the future.

We follow a Good Shepherd-Leader who knows us intimately and who therefore is able to lead us to the green pastures, still waters, and right paths that we need.

And, we have a Shepherd-Leader who knows how to speak to us, meaning we don’t need to be afraid that we might miss his voice and leadership.

The good news today is that Jesus is better at leading us than we are at following Him.

God will speak and we can trust that he knows precisely how to get our attention.

So, when we think about the future, is our posture primarily anxious and worrying, trying to fill every detail, and overthink and overplan?

Or is it quiet trust — do we anticipate with faith that God will speak right on time and that we will find the green pastures, still waters, and right paths just as we need them?

Recently, I spent some time reviewing some of my old journals that recorded both my internal processes and ways that God spoke over a recent significant transition season. I was encouraged, because I could see the hand of God’s sovereign leadership during what was no doubt a tumultuous season and I was also reminded that he is abundantly able to lead me.

He is really good at leading me, even in the midst of my emotional ups and downs!

Second, I was challenged by words I wrote down from a mentor in this season: “You can’t think your way into peace, you have to surrender.”

Friends, have any of us been tempted to think, plot, and plan our way into the peace that surpasses understanding?

Paul’s words are clear, the pathway to peace is not through planning and plotting but through praying.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7, NRSVUE

The peace that surpasses understanding comes from surrendering our thoughts and plans to God, not by planning and thinking harder.

So, do you find yourself more in a state of anxious worrying or in a state of quiet trust today?

I’d love for us to take a second and name where we’re at.

Then, I’d love to invite us to take a deep breath, surrender again, and pray:

Lord, You are a Good Shepherd. You are a Provider — I have everything I need. You are a Restorer — you know the right green pastures and still waters for me. You are the Shepherd-Leader who knows just how to lead me. I confess again my trust in you. Would you help me to direct my thoughts to you, and would you give me the gift today of perfect peace that surpasses all understanding?

If I can ever support you in your journey of coming alive and living in love with Jesus, please don’t hesitate to hit “reply” on this email and let me know.

-Ryan

P.S. It is one of the greatest joys of my life to help people come alive and live in love with Jesus, especially by waking up to the continual conversation we get to enjoy with God. Our team is working on creating some beautiful prayer resources this year, starting with a daily prayer journal designed to help you grow in your ability to hear God’s voice. Please consider becoming a founding partner with us to receive every resource we create in 2025 completely free!