1988) The word, follow, brings to mind many things. “Stop following me!” I said as a child to my younger sister. Follow the leader. Follow me on social media. These are just a few examples that urge me to dig a little deeper.  

When I think of following, (often in the negative sense) the images that are most distinct in my mind are things I’m running from. Incompetence follows me. Sadness follows me. Confusion follows me. Fear follows me. As I turn around in my mind, I scream, Stop following me! But what if these things don’t have to follow me and something else is?  

Psalm 23:6 tells me goodness and mercy are following me all the days of my life. The word for goodness used here in Hebrew means beautiful, beneficial. The Hebrew word for mercy means steadfast love, loyalty, and faithfulness. The Hebrew word for follow used here means to pursue or chase. Here’s the verse with these new insights:  

Surely (I am sure) beautiful and beneficial things that present loyalty, steadfast and faithful love will pursue and even chase after me if it needs to for the rest of my life on this earth.  

Why not stop and embrace these things instead of just letting them follow?