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“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me…” (Psalm 23:6a).
“For the one who is truly in Christ’s care, no difficulty can arise, no dilemma emerge, no seeming disaster descend on the life without eventual good coming out of the chaos.” W. Phillip Keller
There’s no escaping the chaos and complications of life — no bypassing the difficult days, the dilemmas, or even the disasters that seem to knock us off course. This season is no exception. And yet, as we step into a new week, David’s words in Psalm 23 offer a quiet, powerful promise: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” That’s not wishful thinking. That’s not a vague hope. It’s a settled reality for the one who belongs to the Shepherd — who lives under His care and walks in His presence. Goodness and mercy aren’t following from a distance, lagging reluctantly behind. They are actively pursuing us. Still, it doesn’t always look that way. In the middle of heartache or hardship, we often feel like it's calamity chasing us, not mercy. It feels like strife, betrayal, or fear that's gaining ground, not kindness and compassion.
But then we reach the end of Psalm 23, and we find a stillness. A peace. Not because the struggle has vanished, but because the Shepherd is near. Even in the face of torment, sin, and human selfishness, the heart that knows it is closely followed by God’s goodness and mercy begins to quiet down. It becomes less frantic, less anxious. It becomes more calm, more thankful, and more trusting in the presence of the One who never leaves or abandons.
This is the spirit reflected in another psalm of David — Psalm 131: “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:1–2).
The weaned child rests — not because all hunger has been solved — but because they trust the one who feeds them. Their peace comes not from having everything figured out, but from knowing they are held. In the same way, knowing the goodness and steadfast love of God are always following us — closely, personally — gives us permission to stop struggling and start entrusting. We don’t have to chase after blessing as though it’s out of reach. It’s already on our heels.
And that’s not only good news for us, but for others too. The goodness and mercy we’ve received aren’t just for our comfort — they’re meant to flow through us (Proverbs 11:17-18). He knows you deeply. He provides richly. He follows you closely. So let your soul quiet down today. Let your hope rest not in the absence of trouble, but in the nearness of the Shepherd. Let your trust grow in the One who never lets you go, who closely follows you in His goodness and unfailing love.
No matter how messy this Mindful Monday is in your life, no matter how messy this week is, or whatever lies ahead, you can take heart as you go through it all. Why? Because the Good Shepherd is with you. Knowing that His goodness and mercy are in our daily lives reminds us to be hopeful and encouraged in all pain, struggle, and heartache. It reminds us to put our hope in the Shepherd who does not forsake His sheep. Listen to His voice, let Him lead, and have hope in the Lord, the one who closely follows you, now and always (Psalm 131:3).
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