We live in a restless world. There’s always something to worry about: bills, the next doctor’s appointment, a relationship hanging by a thread, or just that old ache in your soul you can’t quite shake. Most of us know what it’s like to wake up anxious or to lie in bed at night, replaying the day’s fears. In times like that, the old practice of biblical meditation is not some fancy trick. It’s a lifeline.
People sometimes think meditation means emptying your mind or sitting in perfect silence. But that’s not how David did it. David’s life was anything but peaceful. He knew the sting of betrayal, the fear of enemies, the weight of loss. When he wrote Psalm 23, it wasn’t from a place of comfort but from the shadows when he had every reason to panic. Yet, instead of feeding his fears, David spoke to his soul: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He chose to remember God moment by moment and what He had promised.
Biblical meditation is simple, but it’s not always easy. It means taking God’s words and turning them over in your heart, saying them out loud, praying to them, and holding onto them when your feelings shout the opposite. In the ancient Hebrew sense, to meditate was to ponder or reflect on the truth until it sinks deep. Joshua was instructed to keep God’s Word on his lips day and night so it would guide his steps. This wasn’t some academic exercise; it was about survival.
I’ll be honest—when life blindsided me with cancer, when the prognosis was unclear, and fear came calling in the dark, I had to remind myself that God had carried me before. Sometimes, all I could do was whisper, “The Lord is Austin’s shepherd.” That simple act, spoken in faith, turned my heart toward the only One who could carry me through the valley. Fear didn’t always vanish, but it lost its grip.
Even as a boy, running through the dark, I learned to speak God’s truth out loud—“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” It helped me then, and it continues to help me now. David did the same, meditating in the night watches. Job clung to God’s words when his world was falling apart. This kind of meditation isn’t about pretending life is easy. It’s about seeing God’s presence right there in the midst of the mess.
If you’re facing heartache or worry, or you feel numb, begin with one verse. Make it your own. Speak it back to God. Let it be the last thing you think about before sleep and the first thing you say in the morning. The point isn’t to impress God but to let His truth calm the storm inside.
Tonight, when you’re tempted to let worry steal your rest, grab hold of what God has said. Not because you’re trying to be strong, but because He is strong. Let His promises settle you. You may not feel it right away, but little by little, you’ll find that even in the valley, you are not alone.
That’s the hope of Psalm 23. Not that life will be painless, but that the Shepherd walks with us, every step, guiding, providing, and restoring our souls. Those who root themselves in God’s Word, who keep coming back to it, will find living water in dry places.
You don’t have to figure it all out. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. Just keep coming back to the Shepherd. That’s where peace is found.