"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." Psalm 23:1-2
One morning, I woke up at my normal time after getting a full eight hours of sleep. Immediately, I noticed my body was not functioning as it normally did. My heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and I felt very anxious. My mind was racing with different thoughts. I'd gone through seasons of stress before, but this was different. My body was functioning as if it were in a state of panic at all times.
As someone who was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2021, I learned how to recognize the symptoms of anxiety. Although I had missed the signs in 2021, I had to learn both the physical and physiological symptoms that plagued my body so I could address them before I began to experience full-blown anxiety attacks.
The moment I began to feel those physical symptoms, I took an extra day off. I cleared my schedule and put off projects until I was ready to work on them. I stopped pushing my body beyond its limits through excessive stress. When I felt physically tired, I took a nap. I indulged in fun activities, like coloring, walking, and listening to music. All these things helped me focus on things that were fun and distract me from the worries of my day. If I allow myself the time to do those activities, my physical, mental, and emotional state improves dramatically.
Although Psalm 23 is a common passage of Scripture, few realize the impact God has on our physical, mental, and emotional health. Often, we navigate through mental health issues believing that they are separate from God. However, God cares about every aspect of our health, including our emotional state. As this verse explains, God is a good shepherd. He makes us lie down in green pastures because rest is important. When we are not getting proper physical, emotional, or mental rest, God will use opportunities, like an anxiety disorder, to give us the rest our bodies desperately need.
Take a moment and analyze your life. Do you tend to push yourself to the limits? Do you put undue pressure on yourself? God never wants us to push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion. Jesus, during his ministry, never pushed himself beyond his limits. When he was tired, he took a nap, even in difficult circumstances like a huge storm. He began his time in the morning, connecting with his father through prayer. He used Scripture to combat the enemy when the enemy's lies pervaded his life. In the same way, God wants us to act in this manner.
When we are tired, we allow ourselves a moment to take a nap. Take time off from the cares of the day. God did not promise that life would be easy. Instead, he promised that we would never be alone.
In what area of your life are you trying to navigate alone? Do you believe God is far from your thoughts and feelings? The Holy Spirit that dwells within you wants to navigate your life. But you must allow him the opportunity to lead you each day. Often, we place undue expectations on ourselves, overpacking our schedule to the point of exhaustion. But God did not design our bodies or our lives to live this way. God wants us to make room for him and what he has in store for us.
When we are anxious, God wants us to come to him. As the above verse suggests, we lack nothing. When we need his help, he will rescue us in times of trouble. He will be our guide, our leader, and our good shepherd. As good shepherds do, they lead their flock to places of abundance in every area of their lives. Shepherds take care of their sheep in ways that the sheep cannot do for themselves. In the same way, God wants to take care of every aspect of our lives.
But we must choose to listen to his voice and act on his command.
Father, let us be people who recognize you as our good shepherd. Let us allow you to lead our lives each day. When we need rest, let us choose to lie down so we can get the rest our body needs. In this way, let us honor you with every aspect of our lives. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/WillSelarep
Related Resource: Hope, Chronic Illness, and Trusting God with Your Kids
When faced with parenting crises, special-needs challenges, fear, and exhaustion, how do you keep moving forward?
Sarah Walton is an author, wife, and mom of four whose family has faced chronic illness, a son with severe behavioral episodes, and years of uncertainty without answers. In this conversation, Sarah talks about what it looked like to survive the hardest seasons of motherhood and how her faith carried her through.
She shares how she learned to grieve her expectations, hold hope and acceptance together, and find small joys when everything felt dark. She also offers practical words for how to support a friend who is suffering — and what not to say. Her new book is "Jesus Will Meet You There." If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 19 June 2026.
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