Finding Contentment in the Good Shepherd's Care
Summary
We live in a world that constantly tells us we are lacking—always needing more, always chasing after the next thing that promises satisfaction. From advertisements to social media, the message is clear: you don’t have enough, and you won’t be happy until you get it. This deep ache for “just a little bit more” is not new; it’s woven into the human condition, stretching all the way back to Adam and Eve. Yet, Psalm 23 opens with a radical declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” These eight words invite us to imagine a life where contentment is not found in accumulation, but in relationship—with the Shepherd who provides, leads, restores, and protects.
The challenge is to truly believe and live as if God is our Shepherd. If we feel we are lacking, perhaps we have allowed something or someone else to shepherd us—our careers, our possessions, our own ambitions. But the Good Shepherd is the one who leads us to rest, who refreshes our souls, who walks with us through the darkest valleys, who prepares a table for us even in the presence of our enemies, who anoints us with honor, holiness, and healing, and whose goodness and love pursue us all our days.
To live a life without lack is not to deny our needs or struggles, but to recognize that in God’s presence, we have everything we truly need. This is the “good life” Jesus came to offer—a life marked by peace, joy, humble confidence, satisfaction, and love, even when the world insists we are missing out. The key is not striving for more, but surrendering to the Shepherd, daily placing ourselves in His care, and trusting that He knows and provides exactly what we need.
David’s confidence in Psalm 23 was rooted in his nearness to the Shepherd. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, invites us to know His voice, to dwell in His presence, and to surrender our restless striving. In doing so, we discover the abundance and sufficiency that only He can give. Whatever it is you feel you lack, bring it to Him—He is faithful, and in Him, you truly lack nothing.
Key Takeaways
- The World Sows Discontentment, but God Offers Sufficiency
Our culture is built on convincing us that we are always missing something, fueling a cycle of dissatisfaction and striving. Yet, the declaration of Psalm 23 confronts this lie: in God, we lack nothing. True sufficiency is not found in what we possess, but in who possesses us—our Shepherd, who knows and provides for our every need. [37:47]
- Who or What Is Your Shepherd?
The sense of lack in our lives often reveals who or what we are truly following. If we are restless, anxious, or constantly striving, it may be because we have allowed something other than God to shepherd us. The invitation is to examine our hearts and return to the Good Shepherd, who alone leads us to rest, refreshment, and right paths. [43:26]
- God’s Presence Is the Source of a Life Without Lack
The abundant life is not about the absence of trouble or the accumulation of things, but about the presence of God. When we daily surrender to the Shepherd, we experience His peace, joy, and provision—even in the midst of chaos or uncertainty. The “good life” is found in nearness to Him, not in chasing after more. [54:55]
- Surrender Is the Pathway to Contentment
Living as if “the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” requires a daily act of surrender—letting go of our attempts to shepherd ourselves and trusting God with our needs, desires, and dreams. Contentment grows as we release our grip on what we think we lack and rest in the Shepherd’s care, knowing He is faithful to provide. [56:51]
- The Good Shepherd Invites Us to Bring Our Lack to Him
Jesus knows our hearts and our unmet desires. He invites us to bring our sense of lack, our dissatisfaction, and our longing to Him, trusting that He alone can satisfy. In His presence, we are honored, made holy, healed, and pursued by goodness and love all our days. [58:02]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[36:22] - The World’s Message: You Lack Something
[37:47] - The Cycle of Discontentment
[38:50] - The Ache for More
[40:19] - What Fills Your Blank?
[41:25] - The Human Condition: Never Enough
[42:38] - Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd
[43:26] - Is a Life Without Lack Possible?
[44:42] - Who Is Your Shepherd?
[46:18] - The Shepherd’s Care in Every Season
[47:25] - God’s Presence in the Darkest Valley
[48:36] - The Table in the Presence of Enemies
[49:39] - Anointed, Holy, and Healed
[50:42] - The Shepherd Who Owns It All
[51:40] - Do I Really Believe I Lack Nothing?
[53:07] - What Does a Life Without Lack Look Like?
[54:55] - The Presence of God: The Source of Abundance
[56:51] - Surrendering to the Good Shepherd
[58:02] - Bringing Our Lack to Jesus
[59:38] - Reflection and Prayer
[01:02:31] - Returning to the Shepherd
[01:10:39] - Closing and Next Steps
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “A Life Without Lack” (Psalm 23)
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### Bible Reading
Psalm 23 (ESV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
John 10:11, 14-15 (ESV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 23, what are some specific ways the Lord acts as our shepherd? (e.g., leading, restoring, protecting)
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of things people believe will finally make them happy or content? [40:19]
3. What are the three reasons mentioned in the sermon for anointing someone’s head with oil in the Old Testament? [49:39]
4. How does Jesus describe Himself in John 10, and what does that mean for those who follow Him?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “If we feel we are lacking, perhaps we have allowed something or someone else to shepherd us.” What does it mean for something other than God to be our shepherd? [43:26]
2. Why do you think David could confidently say, “I lack nothing,” even though he faced many hardships in life? [56:51]
3. The world constantly tells us we are missing something. How does the message of Psalm 23 challenge this mindset? [37:47]
4. What does it look like, practically, to “surrender” to the Good Shepherd in daily life? [54:55]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon asked, “What fills in the blank for you? When I get ______, then I’ll be happy.” What is your blank right now? How does this desire affect your sense of contentment? [40:19]
2. Think about a recent time when you felt restless, anxious, or dissatisfied. Looking back, who or what was “shepherding” you in that moment? [43:26]
3. The sermon described a “life without lack” as one marked by peace, joy, humble confidence, satisfaction, and love. Which of these do you find hardest to experience, and why? [53:07]
4. Is there an area of your life where you are striving for “just a little bit more”? What would it look like to surrender that area to God this week? [54:55]
5. The Good Shepherd invites us to bring our sense of lack to Him. What is one specific need, longing, or area of dissatisfaction you want to bring to Jesus in prayer tonight? [58:02]
6. The sermon mentioned that God’s presence—not the absence of trouble or the accumulation of things—is the source of abundance. How can you intentionally seek God’s presence in your daily routine this week? [54:55]
7. David’s confidence came from his nearness to the Shepherd. What is one practical step you can take to draw closer to Jesus and listen for His voice? [56:51]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to quietly bring their “blank” or sense of lack to God in prayer, asking the Good Shepherd to meet them and provide what they truly need.
Devotional
Day 1: The Lord is My Shepherd—A Life Without Lack
To live a life without lack is to truly believe and trust that God, as our Shepherd, provides everything we need. The world constantly tries to convince us that we are missing something, that we need more to be satisfied, but Psalm 23 begins with a radical declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” This truth challenges the deep ache within us that always wants more, inviting us to rest in the sufficiency of God’s care and provision. When we embrace God as our Shepherd, we can let go of striving and discontentment, finding peace and contentment in His presence and provision. [42:38]
Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel a sense of lack or discontentment? Take a moment today to bring that specific longing to God and ask Him to help you trust in His sufficiency as your Shepherd.
Day 2: Who Is Your Shepherd?—Choosing Whom to Follow
Every day, we are faced with the choice of who or what will shepherd us—whether it’s our own ambitions, the voices of culture, or the Good Shepherd Himself. The one we allow to guide us shapes our experience of peace, rest, and direction. When we let God lead, He brings us to green pastures, still waters, and right paths, even through the darkest valleys. But when we follow other “shepherds,” we find ourselves restless, anxious, and striving. The invitation is to examine who truly leads our lives and to intentionally surrender to the One who knows us, loves us, and provides for us. [46:18]
Psalm 23:2-4 (ESV)
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Reflection: Who or what have you been allowing to shepherd your decisions and desires lately? What would it look like to intentionally let God lead you today?
Day 3: The Good Shepherd’s Abundant Care
God’s care for us is not just sufficient—it is abundant, overflowing, and deeply personal. He prepares a table for us even in the presence of our enemies, anoints us with oil to honor, heal, and set us apart, and causes our cup to overflow. This is not a promise of an easy life, but of a life marked by God’s presence, favor, and love, even in the midst of challenges. When we recognize the ways God honors, heals, and sets us apart, we can live with confidence and gratitude, knowing we are deeply valued by Him. [49:39]
Psalm 23:5-6 (ESV)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God’s abundant care or blessing recently, even in difficult circumstances? How can you express gratitude for His overflowing goodness today?
Day 4: Surrendering to the Presence of the Good Shepherd
The experience of a life without lack is rooted in daily surrender to the presence of God. It is only when we submit our lives—our desires, resources, and dreams—to the Good Shepherd that we find true satisfaction and rest. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily posture, choosing to trust God’s leadership and provision over our own striving. As we draw near to Jesus, the Good Shepherd who knows us and calls us by name, we discover the abundant life He promises, free from the endless pursuit of “more.” [54:55]
John 10:14-15 (ESV)
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life you need to surrender to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, today? What step can you take to place that area under His care?
Day 5: Living the Good Life—Contentment in God’s Presence
True contentment and the “good life” are found not in possessions or achievements, but in living close to the Shepherd, dwelling in His presence. When we make our home with God, we experience peace, joy, and satisfaction that the world cannot offer. This life draws others in, radiates love and hospitality, and points people to the Shepherd who provides all we need. The invitation is to return to God’s presence daily, trusting that His goodness and love will pursue us all our days. [56:51]
Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Reflection: How can you intentionally dwell in God’s presence today—perhaps through prayer, worship, or stillness—and allow His contentment to fill your heart, regardless of your circumstances?
Quotes
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