Years ago I was in one of life’s doldrums when everything seemed bleak and gray. I don’t remember for the life of me what dumped me in the swamp of misery, but I do remember what got me out. Psalm 23:3, “He restoreth my soul.”

The 23rd Psalm. That’s one of the favorites on everyone’s “Top Twenty” of Bible Passages. It’s comforting on all sorts of levels. When I’m really tired, bone weary for one reason or another, I like to think about lying down in green pastures, smelling that delicious smell of green grasses. The imagery of still waters is calming. And of course the Lord’s being with us, warding off evil with His rod and staff, when we walk through our particular valleys, gives peace in life’s worst moments.

But during that time I mentioned earlier, my soul felt particularly tattered and ragged. I’m not exactly sure where my soul is located, but I knew Jesus knew, and I asked him to fix it up for me, make it whole again, maybe even take it to the “Soul Restoration Shop.” I had a mental image of lots of little souls, lining up to be repaired and beautified – kind of like in “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow were all spruced up before they met with the Wizard. Dorothy got a new hairdo and some make-up, the Tin Man was buffed and oiled to perfection, the Lion had a perm in his gorgeous mane, and Scarecrow got a lot of new straw!

From time to time that day I would think about Jesus restoring my soul, bringing it back to its renewed state, and I was at peace with that thought. Gradually I realized the day was less bleak and gray than it had been. I was more at peace. An element of joy had crept in to chase away the doldrums. My soul was back, no longer tattered, but miraculously renewed and restored by the Hand of the Master Soul Restorer Himself.