"I am the Good Shepherd"

Katie is a freshman secondary education student majoring in math. She adores historical fiction and baking treats for friends.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the   Father  knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep." -John 10:14-15

            A shepherd leads his sheep over rocky roads, through mountain passes, and along treacherous ravines to pasture. He knows his sheep and will never take them down a road more difficult than they can manage, but the sheep don't know that. Sheep are notoriously stupid animals; they cannot see the peaceful valleys ahead, they only know the difficulty of their current road. The bible tells us that we are like sheep and Jesus is our shepherd. Like the sheep, we fail to see beyond our current hardship to the plan God has in mind for us. We feel abandoned and forsaken when our road turns difficult, but, like the good shepherd, Jesus knows how much we can withstand, and he will never lead us down a road we cannot survive. Just as a sheep cannot find their way out of the mountain pass without its shepherd, we must look to our good shepherd for guidance when we feel lost.

Prayer: Dear Lord,

            You are my good shepherd. You know my strengths, my weaknesses, my hopes, and my fears. I know you will never lead me down a road I cannot handle, but at times I forget that you promised to protect me and to lay down your life for sheep like me. Help me to remember this when my path threatens to overwhelm me; help me to trust in you to lead me where I need to go.

Amen