Do fearful thoughts, doubts, and self-accusations ever attack you in the middle of the night or when you are alone? Do you ever wonder if you are just a big failure? When was the last time you felt like you didn't measure up or were not good enough?
You know these thoughts.
I'm not good enough, no talents
I'll never succeed.
Nobody likes me. I am just a burden
I am sick, have cancer, and deal with more health issues than others
I am no longer useful. Why does God still have me here
I'm a failure, not smart enough.
I'm too fat/skinny/tall/short.
I don't deserve happiness or success. Look at my past
I'm always messing things up.
I'll never find love.
I'm worthless.
Everyone else is doing better than me.
I am damaged goods.
The Answer
King David is surrounded by his own ex-army led by his son, who hates him. He knows that he has messed up so much in his life. David failed so many times over as a dad, a husband, and even as a friend. He could have done much better, but now it was too late.
David knows David. No one needs to remind him of his failures or what the brethren think of him. David feels badly enough. God knows David even better than David knows himself.
Notice what David does when he, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, writes Psalm 23. David doesn't talk about David, his circumstances, needs, hurts, failures, or anything similar.
David talks about God, the great I AM. He floods his heart, mind, and soul with God's person and character.
The first three verses are spent talking about God and what He does. David meditates on and focuses on God.
Next, when David addresses God, he simply mentions facts
No matter where I am, you are with me
Not important how bad my situation is
Your rod and staff comfort me
I will not fear
You turn my worst experiences into banquet tables
You refresh me
Man, I got it good; everywhere I go, goodness and mercy follow me
I ain't never leaving God.
What if we thought like David when our thoughts rage? We look for solutions or someone or something to blame. We accuse or excuse.
We stay man and "me" focused, so we are afraid and hurting.
Learn from David to focus on the Lord. Bring your thoughts into captivity to Christ. Think on truth, not all the Devil, flesh, and what your inner critic desires to tell you.
Once you focus on how much you are loved, in spite of everything, it will change your life, the way you sleep, and how you feel.
Amazingly, David doesn't mention himself at all. David has turned his focus from the circumstances to Christ, danger to deliverance, fear to faith, and crying to praise.
Your turn.