A few years ago, Joel Osteen’s book Your Best Life Now topped the bestseller lists with its promise of health, wealth, and prosperity for those who would just believe hard enough and pray the right prayers. The message resonated with millions because, let’s face it, who doesn’t want their best life now? But there's a profound difference between the shallow prosperity gospel and the deep riches of biblical faith. Nowhere is this difference more evident than in Psalm 23.
This beloved psalm shows us what our “best life now” truly looks like—not a life free from troubles or guaranteed material prosperity, but a life walked hand in hand with the divine Shepherd through both sunlit meadows and shadowed valleys. David, who wrote this psalm, knew both spectacular success and bitter defeat. He experienced both royal splendor and desperate flight from enemies. Through it all, he discovered that life’s greatest prosperity is found in the presence of God himself.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps 23:1). Notice that David doesn’t say, “The Lord is my celestial ATM” or “The Lord is my success coach.” The shepherd imagery suggests intimate care, protection, and guidance—but also the sheep’s complete dependence on the shepherd. When David says “I shall not want,” he’s not promising a life of luxury but declaring that God’s presence and provision are sufficient for all his needs.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” (Ps 23:2-3). These verses paint a picture of peace and restoration, but notice who’s doing the work – it's the Shepherd. Our role is to follow and trust. Sometimes, the Shepherd has to “make” us lie down because we’re too restless or anxious to rest on our own. The still waters and green pastures aren’t rewards for our spiritual performance; they’re gifts from a caring Shepherd who knows exactly what we need.
“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Ps 23:3). Here’s where the psalm diverges sharply from prosperity theology. The goal isn’t our comfort or success but God's glory. The paths of righteousness aren’t always the easiest paths, but they’re the ones that shape us into the people God designed us to be. Our best life isn’t found in achieving our dreams but in walking the path our Shepherd has marked out.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Ps 23:4). This might be the most countercultural verse in the entire psalm. David doesn’t promise that following God will keep us out of dark valleys. Instead, he promises something far better. He guarantees his steady, loving presence with us in the midst of those valleys. The rod and staff—tools of both protection and correction—remind us that God’s shepherding includes both comfort and discipline.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Ps 23:5). This isn’t a promise that our enemies will disappear, but rather that God provides sustenance and dignity even in hostile circumstances. The overflowing cup suggests abundance, but notice it comes in God’s presence, not necessarily in material terms. True prosperity is found in being honored guests at God's table, regardless of our external circumstances.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps 23:6). The psalm concludes not with a promise of earthly success but with the assurance of God's persistent love and eternal presence. The Hebrew word for “follow” actually means to pursue or chase—God’s goodness and mercy actively pursue us through every circumstance of life.
This, then, is what our “best life now” really looks like: not a life free from troubles, but a life never lived alone; not a life of constant comfort, but a life of constant care; not a life where we get everything we want, but a life where we discover that God is everything we need. It’s a life where dark valleys become places of deep trust, where enemy presence highlights divine provision, and where our cup overflows not with material excess but with the richness of God's presence.
The prosperity gospel sells us short by reducing God to a divine vending machine. Psalm 23 lifts our eyes higher, showing us that true prosperity is found in the presence and care of the Shepherd himself. Whether you’re currently in green pastures or dark valleys, experiencing abundance or need, this psalm invites you to discover your best life now—a life lived in intimate fellowship with the God who shepherds you through every step of your journey.