“Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.”
Psalm 34:10 CSB
Jesus Sees You and He Cares
Two truths to hold on to:
- Even when life takes us through painful seasons, Jesus is still present, leading and protecting.
- We can rest.
A few weeks ago, I found myself awake at 2 AM, tears just streaming down my face. I was so heartbroken about a situation that had been going on in my life.
Still in the middle of “ugly crying,” I felt the peace of God flooding my heart, mind, and soul. Why? Because I opened my Bible and read John 10:11, where Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.”
Jesus is the one who leads us through even the hardest times. The psalmist David illustrated this best when he said,
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.”
In Psalm 23, David is describing the Lord’s protection using a metaphor he understood very well: a shepherd. David was willing to fight a lion and bear to protect his own sheep. He understood that a strong shepherd protects and leads with grace.
Through Every Season, God Remains the Same
All through Psalm 23, we see several different scenes, from green pastures and still waters to even shadowy valleys of death. Each location has one thing in common: the Lord.
The Lord who provides every step of the way. Jesus makes it very clear in John 10:11 that He is the Good Shepherd, inviting us to leave everything behind to follow Him as a shepherd leads his sheep through the pasture.
Getting Personal
I’ve found myself wondering, “If God is such a good Shepherd, then why am I ever in a valley filled with shadows of death?” Until I understood… we have an enemy who very much hates us.
The Bible tells us in John 10:10 that “the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” This is why we have hard times. Here is the good news: even when we’re struggling, we know that our Shepherd, Jesus, will still lead us through.
Did you catch it? The season of pain is never where our story ends.
I love how the Bible promises that:
“all things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.” ~ Romans 2:28
Jesus always has our best interest at heart, and He knows how to protect, lead and guide us. When we know that Jesus can be trusted, our hearts find peace.
Application
Take a look at 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT):
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Pause and identify exactly what is worrying you. Instead of trying to solve it immediately, pray, “God, I’m worried about __. I’m putting this in Your hands.”
So, the next time you find yourself in a rough spot, remember you are not alone. You have Jesus. The Good Shepherd. Protecting and guiding you every step of the way.
Here is the best part of being a sheep: they are not in charge of protecting their own lives. That is left up to the Shepherd. Take those cares and place them in God’s hands.
Let’s close with this:
Jesus is safe to follow. In His care, we find love and protection. In this life, we journey through all kinds of seasons. Every chapter of this journey leaves a lasting impression. Some pages we love, while others we want to rip out entirely. But with Jesus as our Shepherd, we will make it through to the other side.
Journal Prompt
When was the last time you felt God’s peace during a difficult situation? What happened?
Dig Deeper: Verses About God’s Provision
Philippians 4:19
Matthew 6:31–33
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 37:25
Psalm 34:10
Matthew 6:26
Prayer
Shepherd of my life, thank You for leading and protecting me. Help me to follow You in everything that I do. In Jesus’ name.
Read and Reflect
As you read John 10:1–16 and Psalm 23, note:
- In John 10: How does the Shepherd call His sheep, and why do they follow Him?
- Jesus is the One who calls us to follow Him. In Psalm 23, David gives us a picture of what life with the Shepherd looks like. What are three things God does for those who follow Him?
