Life is hard. Many times, we bang our heads against the walls that are placed all around us, just simply trying to move forward and make it through another day. Thankfully, God loves us and promises that;
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11, ESV)
I never thought about shepherds very much until I went to Iraq. Yes, I saw photos of them in Sunday School and some photos in cultural classes, but I didn’t pay much attention to them. However, as I travelled around Iraq, I saw shepherds in the fields, tending to their sheep. The photos became real and I go to these places in my mind when I need encouragement. It is interesting to me that no matter who has conquered their country; whomever is fighting around them-the shepherd continues to do their work—always taking care of their sheep. What a perfect example of how God takes care of us! No matter what storm or war that you are going through, he will continue to be there tending to your needs. The Bible says that “He will tend his flock like a shepherd”. He never stops. He makes his care a priority. He is gentle and he takes care of our every need.
“He will (also) gather the lambs in his arms”. Many times, we need to be gathered up by our shepherd; gathered up by God. When we need to be gathered up, most of the time, we also need to found. We have lost our way, we have taken the wrong path—intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes we lose the path because we are led astray and other times the conditions become disorienting and we need to find help in a storm. God promises to gather us. Find us and pick us up out of the mud that find ourselves.
And, “he will carry (us) in his bosom”. He will hold us close. When I pick up my cat, cupcake, I hold her close to my body. It is secure it is safe. The shepherd does the same thing when he gathers his sheep and carries them to safety. He holds them close as he walks the little lamb out of the storm and the mud. Likewise, God will hold us close as well.
It is nice to know that when the world is falling apart, God is there-like a shepherd to tend to us, gather us, and carry us when life gets hard.
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Photo from Unsplash.com
Keith Andrews says
Thank you:) – It is a good reminder for me as well!
Scott says
Great reminder, thanks Keith