For Advent, we begin a series looking at five beloved Christmas carols. These songs not only turn our minds toward Christmas, but if we let them they also can deepen our relationship with God. Up first: a song about longing—painfully—for true freedom in Christ.

As one of the most familiar passages in the whole Bible, Psalm 23 is often rightly read at funerals as a source of comfort. But there’s much more here, if we take a little time to understand sheep and shepherds—and why this is such a beautiful reminder of who God is.

Hagar was confused, used, abandoned … and pregnant. Yet God saw her, heard her, comforted her and gave her a promise. Whatever our difficult situation, God knows each of us just as well.