(Inside: A prayer for peace and comfort; a prayer for inner peace and happiness; a prayer for peace at work; a prayer for comfort in loss – a psalm for the pandemic.)

Worldwide pandemic. Stressful times. Frightening times. Uncertain times. The circumstances we’re living in are unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetime. We’re all feeling the strain of sheltering in place, social distancing, working from home – or not working, way too much together time with our kids, or no time at all with our grandkids.

If you’re like me, you’re in desperate need of relief and encouragement. This week, Psalm 23 has been that thing that has brought me some relief and encouragement. I read it. I sat with it. I prayed it. I reflected on it. And I had a conversation with God about it.

What follows is my process and my prayer as I lived with Psalm 23 this past week. I thought I’d share it with you. I hope it brings some comfort and encouragement for you as well. 

A Psalm for A Pandemic: A Prayer for Peace and Comfort

          Psalm 23 New Living Translation 

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

     I have no toilet paper.

          … or hand sanitizer.

                 … or disinfectant wipes

I don’t have a job and I don’t know how I’m going to pay my next bills;

Help me to remember, Lord, that when I have Jesus, I have all that I …

               -need. 

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; [He MAKES ME lie down in green pastures.]

He lets me rest. 

          I’m so tired. 

               …weary.

                    …spent. 

     Isn’t this over yet? 

He MAKES ME lie down.

     I need to rest and God knows it.

          He makes me lie down.

I just want to lie down in that green pasture. Lead me to that pasture, Lord.

         Give me your rest. 

He leads me beside peaceful streams [still waters].

I need peaceful streams. I need peaceful … anything. The world is not a peaceful place right now. 

Lord, help me find that peaceful stream. Let me walk beside it – with You.

     When my thoughts are spinning and I can’t
      sleep…

          When the news each day is worse than the day
          before…

               When the kids or the dogs interrupt my Zoom meeting…again…

                      … and my heart is racing…

Lord, lead me beside that peaceful stream where the waters are still, and the air is quiet, and all is calm.

          Breathe…

3 He renews my strength. [He restores/refreshes my soul.]

I’m so weak. 

     I feel the strain, and am bent under the weight of it.

Will I have a job when this is all over?

     Will people I love die? 

          Will I die?

Will my kids finish school?

        Will they be OK?

Will I ever see other humans again???

My strength is gone.

     This is so heavy;

          I feel the heaviness deep in my soul.

He renews my strength? He restores my soul?

     I need strength.  I need to be restored. 

Lord, give me Your strength.  I cannot carry this weight alone. 

          Restore my soul.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 

Am I on the right path? 

          Am I even on the path? 

I’ve never walked this path before.

          I don’t really want to be on this path. 

               Isn’t’ there another path?  

Lord, help me walk this path, 

          and bring honor to Your name. 

4 Even when I walk…

nnnnnOr stumble, or crawl…

…through the darkest valley, [through the valley of the shadow of death]…

This is a dark valley.

     A valley of death.

          Death is all around us.

               Loss is all around us.

                    It’s dark and it’s scary…

I will not be afraid, 

     I will not be afraid? 

          But I am afraid. 

Lord, help me not be afraid. 

     …for you are close beside me.

For you are close beside me. 

     For you are close beside me. 

          For you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Protect me, Lord.

Not just my body – from this virus.

     Protect my mind from invading thoughts and doubts.

          Protect my heart from giving up… or giving in. 

               Protect my spirit from discouragement and despair.

Yes Lord, comfort me 

     …when I am anxious 

          …and unsettled 

               …and grieving 

                    …and lonely.

5 You prepare a feast for me…

Even though the meat packing plants are closing, and there are no milk or eggs in the store, and no yeast or chicken or butter… You prepare a feast for me.

There is more to feast on than the food we eat. We do not live on food alone. We live on every word God speaks. 

Teach me to feast on your word and your presence

     …and be nourished

          …and sustained. 

               …and satisfied. 

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

In the presence of this virus.

     In the presence of my fears. 

          In the presence of uncertainty.

                In the presence of adversity.

You prepare a feast for…

          me…

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

My cup overflows with blessings. 

     – not events 

          or activities 

               or money 

                    or even friends and family

     – With blessings. 

          Spiritual blessings.

               Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms!

My cup overflows. 

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,

No matter what happens.

     No matter what’s next.

          No matter what I face…

Your goodness and your unfailing love will pursue me.

… and I will live in the house of the Lord… 

Forever.

      Forever!

My hope is not in this world, or this life, or in circumstances that can change…

     – whether we live or die

          -or have the things that give us comfort

               -or whether things get back to “normal” again.

My hope is in something more.

     My hope is in  – FOREVER. 

I will live in the house of the Lord – forever.

Forever. 

I have all that I need. 

Want to read more about fear and how to overcome it?
Check out our series here:

65+ Bible Verses that will Help You Conquer Fear
Better Understand Fear So You Can Conquer It Hard
Bible Study on Fear: How God Responds to Your Fear
Dealing with Fear: 4 Steps to Take When You’re Afraid