Who's shepherding your life?

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. (Psalm 23:1-3 NLT)

The Lord is my shepherd. What does that statement really mean? It was not uncommon for the youngest boy in the family to be the shepherd in Old Testament times. He leaves home with the sole mission of tending the sheep. He carries little with him - a scrip and a staff, the clothes on his back, and his rod. His existence is quite remote - no one accompanies him, he shepherds alone. Jesus came alone. He didn't bring a legion of angels to protect him and the flock. He merely presented himself - he alone would tend the sheep. 

As we think of our lives in terms of the sheep, we need someone to 'tend' to our lives. This psalm is truly a 'declaration' of God's care over his people. The sheep actually 'trusted' the shepherd - knowing he would lead them to green pastures, taking them along streams to satisfy their thirst, and prepare a sheltered place for them to bed down at night. God's people have nothing to fear because the Shepherd is maintaining his watchful care over his sheep. When David said God was his shepherd, he was acknowledging that God actually guided him, provided for him, and watched over him, protecting him from all manner of danger.

Did you know that sheep lie down when they are afraid? In green pastures, they not only find rest, but they find security. They know the shepherd has taken them to the place where they can find restoration for their troubled minds and hearts. Why did they lie down in the midst of fearful threats? They trusted the shepherd to take care of those threats. We might do well to learn from the sheep! It could be that the very place he leads us will provide that much needed rest all while we are trusting him for his protection.

Philippians 4:19 reminds us: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." All our needs - whether physical, financial, spiritual, or emotional - supplied in Christ Jesus. The Shepherd does it all. He gave it all so we could know the safety of his grace-filled care over our lives. Isn't it time we start trusting the one who knows best what we need, when we need it? It could be that we have been trying to shepherd our own lives, but that doesn't make for much rest, does it? Just askin...