I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

— Psalm 23:6

Forever is a long time. And most of us are not fans of waiting. Sometimes even TV ads between our favorite shows can seem unending.

When we think about it, forever can seem intimidating or overwhelming. So it can help to think about this in connection with relationships. Relationships with family members often stand the test of time, and yet today a 35-year marriage can seem like a rare treasure. In our mobile and divisive culture today, a 46-year friendship may also be less common than in the past.

The psalm writer wants the Lord’s sheep to know that the good shepherd will never let us go. This is a comfort that can carry us through the ups and downs of challenging relationships in the here and now.

We can also think of forever in terms of location. Many of us sheep are pretty happy with the life we have here on earth. We are often able to find places we enjoy for beauty and bliss, and it can be hard to imagine anything better because this is all we know.

But the psalmist reminds us that the shepherd may call us to move along to other pastures—and yet that may mean going through tough passageways and dark valleys at times. Being in a loving relationship with the good shepherd will keep us calm, though, and eventually we’ll move on to new pastures in a new heaven and earth, where we will live with him forever.

How does this promise encourage you today?

Lord, help us to trust in you, knowing that you are with us now and forever. Amen.