Verse of the Day:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streams.” -Psalm 23:1-2
Jesus Cares
Have you ever had one of those seasons where it just seemed like nothing was going right? Well, a few weeks ago, I found myself in that same exact place at 2 AM, tears just streaming down my face. I was so heart-wrenched and 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, my mind, and my soul. Why was I able to do this? Because I had read John 10:11, where Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” He is the one who leads us through even the hardest of 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. Having been a shepherd himself, David who was willing to fight a lion and bear to protect his own sheep, drew a beautiful picture between himself and the Almighty. “The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need.”
What’s really going on here?
All through Psalm 23, David describes several different scenes – green pastures, still waters, valleys of the shadow of death. Each location having 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 on his pasture.
Getting Personal
I’ve followed people that were not “safe,” trusting their judgment and leadership. 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, but even when we’re struggling, we know that our shepherd, Jesus, will still lead us through.
Even in the midst of the hardest seasons, He invites us to rest and trust Him as he takes care of everything.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.” Jesus, our shepherd, has our best interest at heart, and He knows how to protect and lead and guide us. When we know that Jesus can be trusted, our hearts find peace. Even when life is tough, I know that I am safe.
God’s desire is not simply for us to follow Him. He loves and cares for us, providing for us every step of the way. The verse of the day, is an invitation to rest, ensuring that followers safely follow God’s lead.
Application
So what does this actually look like in our everyday lives? How do we live as sheep under the Good Shepherd’s care when life gets overwhelming?
We pray. The Lord does not see it as complaining; he cares about every part of our life. And understands that we struggle. Take a look at: 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
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 hand.
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.
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?
