The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul… (Psalm 23:1-3a)

Can you think of a time when you felt lonely? Maybe isolated or dejected? Many years ago, I set

out on an adventure; like so many before me, I enlisted in the military and was stationed in Fort

Leonard Wood, Missouri for my basic training. The summer of 2002 was hot, dry, and full of drill

sergeants yelling out cadence. At 19, I was excited for the experience, but I also felt alone. I

missed my family, my home, my school and everything I had grown accustomed to. On Sunday

mornings, we were given the option of either having two full hours of downtime in the barracks

(jackpot!) or going to the base chapel. I went to chapel. On my first visit, I was expecting to hear

a great, soul nourishing sermon from the post chaplain. But no sermon was given. Instead, we

prayed, sang songs and worshipped. But no message, no three points to ponder or a deep

penetrating truth to consider for the week. Just praise. Every Sunday, the same.

But can I tell you a secret? At first, I felt cheated. No sermon, no message, no outline? What in

the world? However, as time went on, it was the pouring out of our hearts through song that

helped me the most during this time. We didn’t necessarily need the sermon; what we needed

was nourishment. And nothing nourishes and restores the soul quite like worship. It’s pure, raw,

heartfelt emotion, praising God for all He is and all He has done. For being joyful and thankful,

even in the middle of difficulties. I’m not sure I’ve experienced that kind of vulnerability in my

worship in a very a long time; yet it was in those moments I felt closest to the Father. There is a

song that corresponds with our devotional today; and, if you don’t mind, I would love for you to

sing a few verses with me:

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art.

May God bless you wherever you find yourself today.

By Ryan Pearl

Ryan and his wife, Susie, are community leaders at IBC's Georgetown campus and volunteer in

the nursery. Their four kids are blessed by IBC Georgetown's children's ministry and enjoy

finding ways to serve.