Vital Signs: Friday, May 8, 2026

Rest in the Cycle

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.” — Psalm 23:1–2

I think of this passage when I’m tired. Bone tired. I know the rest of this beautiful psalm—that He leads me in paths of righteousness and that I walk through the valley of the shadow of death while His rod and staff comfort me. But when I’m tired, I camp out right here in Psalm 23 where God tells me that He sees me, He knows what I need, even if my life at the time doesn’t look like a quiet body of water or a soft, sweet green pasture.

When I long for rest but can’t see it in my near future, I can look back in my life and remember the times God has gone before me, over the rough and shadowy parts of the path, and provided for me and my family in ways I could not imagine or orchestrate or even know how to ask for. I remember the provisions, the miracles, the joys, the being alive in my faith and never wanting to turn back—those moments propel me to know, beyond doubt, that God can give me rest.

Remembering His goodness is rest in itself. And why wouldn’t He give me the bodily rest that I crave? He has certainly given me everything else. Rest may come in the middle of a hard day by means of a few quiet minutes, or one precious hour. Rest may be a season of “normal” life for weeks or months with no raging storm heartaches. Rest may be praying while I work, recounting blessings, praising God for things like clean water in my home, air conditioning, refrigerators, and a bank account.

Rest is knowing that storms don’t last. Peace will come. God is my Shepherd, and I shall want for nothing. As a matter of fact, when I look back on all the hard times, I see His presence even better than when life was just rolling along. And there was always rest—after the hard times, after the sickness, after the funeral, and after a serious life change.

It’s like Psalm 23 is a cycle, and it starts with rest. Then we walk in righteousness. Then we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Then we are given a banquet. I like to think of Psalm 23 as a cycle because the cycle may last a year, or I may experience all the paths and all the blessings in one day. This much I know—God gives us the rest we need to walk the paths that He ordained for us to walk, and once we’re on those paths of righteousness and shadow, He is with us, comforting, anointing, guiding. And I can hear Him whispering in my ear, “Rest is coming. Just you wait and see.” - (Deborah Smith)

Lord, thank You for being my Shepherd. When I am bone tired, help me to camp out in the truth of Your provision. Remind me of the miracles and the rest You have provided before, and give me the peace to know that rest is coming again. Amen.

Team Wade loves you and is praying for you ❤️👊