A Psalm of David
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
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 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, a profoundly comforting scripture, assures us that we journey through life under God's loving guidance. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

'I always wonder why the Lord doesn't remove us from 'the valley'. Instead, he provides comfort and guidance rather than removal from difficulty. I often find myself wishing he would lead us out of the valleys; however, it is more usual that he walks us through them.

The Psalm ends with 'surely goodness and love will follow me'. There is a promise of hope, having walked through dark valleys, a radiant road before us as we navigate the shadowed paths of life. And in that knowledge, we can have peace and confidence that the Lord has his hand in our lives.

As we step into June, the summer months call to us. With longer daylight hours, we often feel a surge of energy and time. This summer, let's seize the opportunity to walk alongside one another. Whether you're in a valley or on a spiritual and emotional peak, we all experience life's highs and lows in different seasons. Psalm 23 reminds us that we are not alone, and we can find tremendous encouragement in journeying together through these ups and downs.

So, as summer is upon us, are there some people you can walk alongside? This month is an excellent opportunity to fire up the BBQ and invite some people who may need some encouragement. Walk with a few people you've met on Sunday to try and connect more. Maybe look to drop a few messages of encouragement to the people in your Small Group. One of the greatest strengths of the Christian community is our opportunity to bond and do life together.

You don't need to be in difficulty reaching out and building some deeper friendships, but as we reach those valleys, you'll be glad you're inviting people of faith to walk alongside you.

So, as we walk into June, reach out more, connect with others, know you are under the covering of the Lord, and use that to encourage those around you.

I am praying the Lord's best over you this June.

Much love to you all,

Julian