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READ: PSALM 23; PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13; HEBREWS 13:5\n\n\n\nGrowing up, I participated in a program at my church where I learned Bible stories and memorized Scripture. I remember memorizing Psalm 23 when I was in second grade. However, the words of this psalm didn\u2019t mean nearly as much to me as a seven-year-old as they do now.\n\n\n\nPsalm 23 is an incredibly popular psalm. Verse 1 in particular is frequently quoted by pastors, speakers, and authors: \u201cThe LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need.\u201d So, it\u2019s probably not surprising that for most of my life, this psalm (especially verse 1) felt clich\xe9 and stale to me.\n\n\n\nIt wasn\u2019t until college that God used this verse to open my eyes to a hard truth I had been desperately needing to see\u2014and accept\u2014for so long. In short, I had spent several years hoping to date a particular guy who simply wasn\u2019t interested in dating me. However, even though I knew he wasn\u2019t interested, I still spent countless hours thinking (and daydreaming) about him and the possibility of having a relationship with him. To say that I was dissatisfied with my situation would be an understatement. All I wanted was him. God had clearly shown me this guy wasn\u2019t meant for me, but I ignored Him.\n\n\n\nHowever, there was a moment during my college years when Psalm 23:1 seemed to come to life. God used it to gradually change my perspective on the guy I had been hoping to date. Some Bible translations say that we \u201clack nothing,\u201d or that we won\u2019t be \u201cin want.\u201d It felt like God was telling me, \u201cYou don\u2019t need to want anything, Grace\u2014including that guy\u2014because I\u2019ve given you everything you need.\u201d I still struggled to accept the reality of my singleness, but I was encouraged by the comforting truth of Psalm 23:1. Jesus is our loving Shepherd, and when we know Him, we have everything we need. \u2022 Grace McCready\n\n\n\n\u2022 It\u2019s not bad to desire things\u2014including romantic relationships\u2014but these desires can sometimes turn into idols. And idols will never fulfill us. Only through Jesus can we experience real contentment, regardless of our circumstances. If we\u2019ve put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, we\u2019ll live with Him forever in restored creation. And even now, He is with us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people. And that\u2019s what we truly need\u2014God\u2019s presence with us. If we got everything we ever wanted, but we didn\u2019t have God with us, we would never experience true fulfillment. Consider spending some time with Jesus in prayer, asking Him to help you lay down any idols in your life and experience true contentment in Him.\n\n\n\n\u2022 When you have questions about dating, who is a trusted Christian adult in your life you could talk to? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.\n\n\n\nThe LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need. Psalm 23:1 (CSB)