Scripture: Psalm 23 –“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
These last 21 days have been a rich time for God to not only continue a journey in you, but also to deepen your awareness of the journey. The question you may have for yourself as we reach the conclusion of these three weeks is: How does God want to lead me into the next leg of my journey?
As you look back on these three weeks—and beyond to the seasons you’ve walked through—you certainly can attest to the truth that God is a Good Shepherd. Even as you survey those seasons when you weren’t serving Him, your testimony has to be that God’s grace has sustained you.
How many times have you wondered how you would ever navigate the twists and turns you could see up ahead? Truth be told, we have all attempted to slow the journey down or even go backward just to avoid the difficulties. Another term for that is “spiritual laziness.” Ouch!
Those are tough words, but they pale in comparison to the impact of actually embracing them. The thing that is so surprising about spiritual laziness is when it comes about. Often, it’s on the mountaintop as we head toward the next valley. Who wants to leave the mountaintop? The view is great, and the sense of victory is palpable.
The thing about the journey with God is that it’s often misunderstood as an exploration of mountaintops. The truth is—and it’s proven by your past—the journey is like a well-crafted screenplay or novel filled with the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows.
However, unlike a good fictional thriller, your story is true. The sadness and anger are real. Betrayal doesn’t feel like the setup of the next scene, but rather ruins a story you don’t have context for yet.
When we watch a suspenseful movie, at some point we have to make the decision to trust the author. He or she would never allow the ultimate failure to remain. A good story always ends in victory.
The Good Shepherd is the author of your steps. He doesn’t just write your script—He walks next to you to navigate the journey. Because it’s all real, and the story goes on and on and on, we find ourselves wishing the struggle could end. We long for the part of the journey when the valleys disappear for good.
In a strange way, we want the happiness of happy endings to play on loop for the rest of our lives.
God has allowed for the reality that, as the peaks come, so must the valleys. Why? Because we aren’t puppets living in a world without free will. It’s the decisions of man that dig deep valleys for their to be highs and lows in the first place.
God created a powerful land that only He can subdue, while putting us here to enjoy it. It’s under His watchful eye of grace and protection that He allows us to thrive from its resources and gain pleasure from its beauty.
After God created the earth, He created Adam. Before He created Eve, He made a garden that Adam would work and tend to. In the garden was a tree called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” from which He commanded Adam not to eat.
After Eve came along, He reiterated His command to continue working the garden while not eating from the tree. Adam and Eve were not mindless puppets for God to play with. They were God’s children, created in splendor and beauty for relationship with Him.
It’s clear that He could receive no pleasure from an Adam and Eve who had no free will.
As the story goes on, Adam and Eve used their free will to go against God’s will. They ate from the tree He had commanded them not to eat from. In other words, they sought sustenance in God’s creation but outside of God’s intention.
They walked toward death because they had been convinced God was only trying to rob them of life.
It’s a little comical to dissect the things we are willing to believe about God—perhaps none more humorous than when we somehow feel as though we have a comprehensive view of all that He has done and is actively doing on our behalf.
It only takes a quick look at the enormity of His creation to realize we are at the mercy of His infinite works and knowledge.
It’s in His stewardship of the earth that we may possibly gain insight into the vastness of His work in our lives.
The earth is anything but boring. We are flying through the Milky Way at 514,000 mph while orbiting the sun at 67,000 mph. The Good Shepherd isn’t just leading you through the deep waters and green pastures. He is doing far more than we realize in realms we can’t see.
The miracle of His guidance is that He can speak peace into your moment while ensuring the rock you live on travels through space. He settles your life even though your world may be in chaos.
The sun shines, and the rains fall. The winds blow, and the fires burn. Quiet skies amplify the birds’ song, while oceans roar for an encore. Claps of thunder give voice to lightning, demanding respect for what an all-powerful God spoke into existence.
God created all of that and more for His pleasure. He gets no glory from a creation that doesn’t reflect His greatness. He gets no honor from His children if they don’t reflect His love.
It’s not His desire to be Lord over a world that is given no choice but to serve Him, rather than being invited to love Him. He sees no grace in a people who are forced by His will, rather than honoring Him with their free will.
Even as God made something as vast and magnificent as the earth and galaxies for our enjoyment, He gives us the freedom to curse it—and even to curse Him.
For the one who would do that, may God’s amazing grace flood your soul and cause your heart to change.
But for the one who loves God and serves Him, embrace the profound honor it is to serve an all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present God who has invited you instead of forced you—a Savior who has died for you, so you would never die.
He is the Good Shepherd. And it’s in the valleys, when you fix your eyes on the mountaintop and become overwhelmed, that you can look to your left, your right, and behind you to always find Him there with you.
The same God who holds a moving planet in His hand is the same God who will ensure stillness in the storm.
The same God who silenced the seas is the same God who speaks peace in the valley. The same God who conquered death on the cross is the same God who speaks life when you feel buried alive.
As you approach the next part of the journey, understand that because of the Good Shepherd, when you get to the mountaintop, He will show you the valley you just climbed out of.
As you celebrate your victory over that valley, don’t forget the victory over your fears and doubts as you walked through it.
Don’t look ahead too soon that you forget to give God glory for what is behind and follows no more.
But when you dare to forge ahead, take heart and walk in faith built by the lessons from the valley behind.
As you say no to spiritual laziness and don’t delay whatever God has ahead, trust Him. He has been faithful to use your challenges to confront even greater challenges ahead.
Because He is a Good Shepherd!
It’s been a pleasure! Thank you for reading.
Reflection:
How have the last 21 days changed you?
What have you developed in this journey that you will use moving forward?
What will your strategy be to keep any built-up momentum going to propel you into new and fresh disciplines?
Ask God to show you how He is specifically shepherding you. What are three things you know He is developing in your life right now?
Pray for guidance as you seek the Good Shepherd. Listen for His direction for what is ahead