One night I was unable to rest because I was in turmoil. I felt fearful. Seeking comfort, I began praying with Psalm 23, which begins, “The Lord is my shepherd.” When I got to, “He leadeth me beside the still waters” (verse 2), I felt impelled to stop and think more deeply about these words.

Sheep are frightened by noisy, rushing streams, so a caring shepherd leads his flock to still waters. Likewise, when we need refreshment, our divine Shepherd, God, leads us to rest and peace, a calm state of thought in which we can commune with God, divine Love. This mental place of peace was where I longed to be, so I knew I needed to put my trust in God.

A quiet lake mirrors the trees and sky around and above it, but if a storm stirs up the water, the reflection is no longer clear. Similarly, I reasoned, a calm mental state is able to clearly mirror the qualities of God, divine Mind, such as insight and harmony, which turbulent thinking cannot express.