Wants and Needs

Psalm 23 and My Growing "I Want" List

I was thinking this morning about Psalm 23. It is one of the most famous psalms, and I tend to rattle it off so quickly that the words don’t sink in.

But today I paused for a moment, reflecting on that first verse:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (or at least that’s the way I memorized it as a child in the KJV).

Those two phrases are interesting when placed side by side. I have a pretty good idea of what it means that God is my shepherd. He guides me, protects me, leads me, rescues me when I stray. Maybe that is why this Psalm is so beloved. We all need someone looking out for us.

But what follows sounds almost like a stern command: “I shall not want”?

The word “want” was causing me to stumble. Honestly, there are a lot of things I want. The supplication part of my prayers tends to grow long and unwieldy.

· I want to lose a few pounds so my pants fit better.

· I want my mom to be able to regain mobility as she struggles with Parkinson’s.

· I really want another piece of chocolate.

· I want to be reconciled with my daughter.

· I want a good night’s sleep.

These “wants” tumble around in my mind and heart, the significant requests mixing with the fleeting ones like clothes in a dryer.

What does this psalm mean to a creature defined by wants?

In my defense, not all of my “wants” are selfish. Some are serious requests that would surely be granted by the Good Shepherd.

So why are we told not to want? Is it wrong to ask God for the deep desires of our heart? Should we be content in our present state, wanting nothing at all? Should we be passive sheep relaxed into a meditative and tranquil state?

Knowing that God wants to hear our prayers, that He is in tune with our tears and our aching hearts, that answer did not feel right to me.

So I went back to my Bible to dig further. The New International Version translates this same verse as “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

This happens to be a much closer translation to the original Hebrew word “ḥāsēr”— which means to be without or to have a need.

That distinction makes sense to me. I have wants, and then I have needs.

Even with God in control, my wants may not all be met. But, at the same time, knowing that God is ultimately in charge of my life, that I am His beloved child, I lack nothing. I have everything I “need.”

When times are rough and my world feels topsy turvy, I can rest assured that the Good Shepherd is watching over me. I know that my future is secure.

There is another layer of meaning that is empowering for those of us walking through difficult seasons. While we might not have answers to each of our heartfelt prayers, God has given us everything we need for this moment.

One Bible scholar friend mentioned to me that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today. Incredible!

2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

That is why we can sit in awful situations still knowing that God is in control.

That is why, when we get to the “even though” part of Psalm 23, we can still feel His comfort: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

He is what we need. The Good Shepherd has promised to be with us in the messy parts.

There will be moments where the wants are strong, but we can know that He will never ever leave.

I am content to be a sheep, following a good, good Shepherd.

And while I still have many wants, He has given me everything I need.