Loneliness in WidowhoodSample

In Psalm 23:5-6, it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV)

This beautiful line of verse, which was penned by the shepherd boy turned King David, comes from Psalm 23. You’ve probably heard or recited this Psalm many times yourself. It starts with the visual reminder, “The Lord is my shepherd.” David spent many nights on the hillside with only the stars and sheep as his companions. The shepherd’s life could be a quiet and lonely one, but David saw these times as an invitation to meet with God. It was here that he came to know God as his shepherd and his protector. Could it be that learning to find God in the quiet of the hillside as a shepherd boy gave him the strength to make it through his time in the caves as a fugitive?

David goes on to write, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In the Bible, we often find oil associated with joy. It’s interesting that in the “darkest valley,” is where David discovered the true source of joy. Sometimes our greatest revelations happen in our darkest valleys. Many times after this, David wrote of his hardships and struggles only to end it with a line like, “but my hope is in the Lord.” Despite the many trials he faced, his hope and strength were anchored in God. He knows, He sees, and He is making a way for you because He is the Good Shepherd, He is a good Father and He is always faithful.

Take a few moments and read Psalm 23 in different versions. Which one is your favorite and why? What do you see or maybe even feel as you read this chapter? Challenge yourself to take one evening this week and spend some quiet time outside under the night sky. Imagine you are like David on the hillside watching the sheep. Allow God to speak to your heart in the quiet. Imagine Him pouring his love, peace, and joy over you, like anointing oil.