Like many believers, Psalm 23 is one of my favorite psalms. Its imagery of green pastures and still waters brings a sense of peace, security, and trust in God. But as I’ve grown in my relationship with Him and studied the Bible more deeply, I’ve learned to digest scripture as a whole, not just in parts.

Before David could proclaim, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, ESV), he first had to walk through the deep valley of Psalm 22—a psalm of suffering, abandonment, and desperate cries for help.

The Dark Valley: Psalm 22

Psalm 22 begins with a raw, gut-wrenching cry:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, ESV)

David is in deep anguish. He feels abandoned, surrounded by enemies, physically weakened, and mocked. His pain is so intense that he compares himself to a hunted animal being torn apart. And yet, in the midst of this suffering, he remembers God’s past faithfulness.

This psalm is significant for another reason—Jesus quoted these very words on the cross (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). The suffering David describes foreshadows Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, reminding us that even Jesus felt the weight of human despair.

But Psalm 22 doesn’t end in despair. There’s a shift.

The Turning Point

Despite his suffering, David doesn’t let go of his faith. Starting in verse 22, he moves from lament to praise:

• God’s Deliverance – “For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.” (Psalm 22:24)

• A Commitment to Praise – “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” (Psalm 22:22)

• A Vision of Future Worship – In the final verses (25–31), David looks beyond himself, seeing that God’s faithfulness will be declared for generations to come.

This pattern is common in the Psalms: lament followed by confidence in God’s faithfulness, even before full deliverance is experienced.

The Answer to Despair: Psalm 23

After crying out in suffering, David develops unshakable confidence:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, ESV)

But what changed? David still faced struggles, but now he had a greater awareness of God’s presence.

So Psalm 23 isn’t just a beautiful scripture to write on your heart—it’s the answer to the cries of Psalm 22.

David’s heart shifts:

1. From Desperation to Trust – David starts in Psalm 22 feeling forsaken but ends by declaring God’s faithfulness. This shift allows him to confidently say in Psalm 23, “I shall not want.”

2. From Suffering to Provision – In Psalm 22, he’s weak, surrounded by enemies, and near death. Psalm 23 presents the opposite—a picture of abundant provision, restoration, and peace.

3. From Fear to Security – Psalm 22 is filled with danger and mockery, while Psalm 23 boldly proclaims, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

What This Means for Us: Philippians 3:10

The connection between Psalm 22 and Psalm 23 is the same journey Paul describes in Philippians 3:10:

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” (Philippians 3:10, ESV)

Paul understood something that David experienced—suffering comes before resurrection power. We cannot truly know the depths of God’s provision until we’ve walked through the valleys of need.

Just as David’s trust in God deepened through the suffering of Psalm 22, Paul knew that to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection, we must also share in His sufferings.

Psalm 23 is a picture of resurrection life—the life of confidence and peace that comes after we’ve learned to trust God in our hardest moments.

If You’re in a Psalm 22 Season…

There are moments when we might feel like we’re in Psalm 22, crying out, “God, where are You?” But the truth is, God is always present, even in the darkest valleys.

Psalm 23 reminds us that after the suffering, there is peace. After the cry for help, there is the assurance of God’s provision. And after the storm, we can walk in the confidence that we are never alone—because the Lord is our Shepherd.

So if you’re in a Psalm 22 season right now, hold on. Psalm 23 is coming. And through it all, REJOICE as you are coming to know Christ in a deeper way.