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A Mental Health Reflection on Psalm 23

At CityLight Counseling, we often meet with individuals navigating burnout, anxiety, grief, spiritual confusion, or a deep sense of disconnection. Life pulls us in a thousand directions, responsibilities stack up, emotional wounds go unhealed, and stillness feels foreign.

In the middle of all that noise, a quiet but powerful question emerges: Who is shepherding your soul?

Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted passages in Scripture, not just because it's poetic, but because it touches something deep in the human psyche: our longing to be guided, protected, and restored. Written by David, a shepherd-turned-king, this Psalm flows not from idealism but from lived experience.

It's a passage about what it means to be held, emotionally, spiritually, even physiologically by something (or Someone) larger than yourself.

The Invitation to Rest and Restore

The psalm opens with a declaration:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

That first line alone carries significant therapeutic weight. Many clients come to counseling feeling chronically discontent, anxious, or overwhelmed. There is always another expectation to meet, another wound to process, another "what if" looming. But what if your soul could feel led rather than driven? Fed rather than starved? Held rather than hurried?

Jesus described Himself as the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:14), saying, "I know my own and my own know me." This is more than religious language, it's a radical invitation into secure attachment with God. Just like in trauma-informed therapy, healing often begins in the safety of relationship.

A soul shepherded by Christ begins to feel safe enough to slow down.

Why You Can't Lie Down: The Sheep Analogy

Pastor and former shepherd Phillip Keller once noted that sheep will not lie down unless they are free from four things: fear, friction with others, torment by pests, and hunger. Sound familiar?

Many of us can't find rest because our nervous systems are stuck in hypervigilance. Whether it's relational tension, intrusive thoughts, traumatic memories, or basic emotional depletion, we can't exhale. But Psalm 23 promises more than spiritual platitudes. It describes a kind of nervous system regulation rooted in God's care:

"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."

This is not performance-based healing. It is presence-based healing. The kind that meets you where you are, not where you think you should be.

Soul Restoration Is Emotional Restoration

In therapy, we often ask: How is it with your soul?

Psalm 23 gives us a picture of what a restored soul looks like. It isn't constantly anxious about the future; it walks, not sprints, through life even through dark valleys; it does not fear evil because it knows that pain doesn't mean abandonment.

The phrase "your rod and your staff, they comfort me" symbolizes guidance and protection. Just as trauma survivors find healing in safe, corrective experiences, our souls find comfort in knowing we're not alone; that God is near in both green pastures and the valley of shadows.

Goodness That Follows You

We often treat peace as a finish line, something we'll arrive at if we can just fix ourselves, fix others, or fix our circumstances. But Psalm 23 flips that on its head:

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

In therapeutic terms, this is an internalized sense of safety. Not something we chase, but something that chases us. When your soul is shepherded by Christ, healing isn't something you achieve, it's something you receive. Slowly. Gently. With compassion.

The Counseling Connection

At CityLight Counseling, we believe in whole-person care: mind, body, and soul. That includes exploring your spiritual story, whether it's marked by connection, confusion, or even spiritual trauma. Psalm 23 doesn't ask you to pretend everything is okay. It simply offers a better way to live: not self-led, not shame-led, but Shepherd-led.

If you're feeling spiritually disoriented, emotionally exhausted, or just in need of rest, we invite you to reach out. Whether you're navigating trauma, burnout, or a transition in life or faith, we're here to walk with you toward restoration.

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