My heart is heavy this week so I’m retrieving yet another post from a couple of years ago. Today you can steal a peek into my private journal. I hope you’re encouraged by how the Lord responded to my heart’s cry…
6/18/13 “Do you, the good shepherd, also protect me? Do you protect me and care for me too?”
That is all I’ll let you see! Sorry…no further details!
My journal has become, not merely a recording of my thoughts and the events in my life, but my side of a life-long conversation with God. I try to record my thoughts and prayers toward Him and how He answers and guides me as well. It’s where I talk to Him. This was my question of the day a few days ago…maybe the question of the year.
That was written in a moment this week in which I felt vulnerable and unprotected in a worldly sense. It was a cry to God to want so badly to truly grasp and sense His loving care.
I happen to be in the book of John at chapter 10 where Jesus proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd. The day that I wrote my question in my journal was the day I first began meditating on this chapter this week.
By my last post, you could see that I was discouraged last week. I am disheartened all the more this week, though.
I was also encouraged last week, though, and I am heartened all the more this week.
I count it a privilege to be among those who can say that. Discouraged yet encouraged. Vulnerable yet protected. Lost yet being guided.
A follower of Christ can, will and should experience both extremes since we are in a broken world but following Christ.
What is your experience like right now? I hope you are only encouraged and feeling guided and protected by God. If you are in a time where you also feel the opposite from the world, take heart!
He knows even the most silent prayers. The ones spoken in the heart…written on a piece of paper…typed into a Word Document on the computer. I believe He is pleased and, perhaps, most glorified when we turn to Him for our needs and desires instead of what the world might give. That is our faith playing out…it shows true belief and trust.
The day after I wrote down my question for God, I was cleaning behind furniture. I found a ball, some puzzle pieces, a forgotten craft, and a note from my husband. Seeing the year 2008 scribbled on the note intrigued me. I couldn’t wait to read his thoughts from five years ago.
It was a note from Mother’s Day that year. It had been given to me along with my gift that day which was a favorite painting, Hermann Pastoral, by a local artist, Catherine Mahoney (see picture at the top of this post).
Before I finished reading the words, the tears came. I remembered what he wrote…from John chapter 10.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
I’m writing more in my journal today…more about the Good Shepherd. I’m looking up writings by theologians on it. I want to understand what this means that Jesus is a Good Shepherd. That I have not just A good shepherd but THE Good Shepherd. I love what Dan Doriani, pastor and professor has to say about the Good Shepherd…
“Abraham, David and others functioned as good shepherds when they led Israel faithfully. But when Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd” he says it’s more than his function, it is his very nature, for “I am” is a name of God.
In Exodus 3:6 the Lord says, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.” Soon he makes the absolute statement “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:13-14). He adds, “I am the one who blots out your sins” (Isaiah 43:25, 51:12). “I am the one who comforts you” (Isaiah 51:12).
So when Jesus says, “I am,” he speaks as God speaks and claims to be God. He says, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58, 18:6). He says, ‘I am” bread, water, light, a door, the way, and “the good shepherd.’
With each “I am” saying, Jesus directs longings and needs to himself.
The law gives light (Psalm 119:105), but Jesus is the Light.
The law shows the way we should walk (Deuteronomy 5:32-33), but Jesus is the Way.
Jesus says it is his nature to satisfy our proper longings – our longing for light, guidance and protection. Therefore, we should train ourselves to turn to Jesus to satisfy our longings. If Jesus doesn’t satisfy a desire –directly or indirectly – we should at least ask if it’s a good desire.
We tend to seek fulfillment from temporal things….But these things can’t satisfy our deep desires. When Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd,” he teaches us to take our hopes to him.”
Hope for safety, understanding, love, joy, healing, peace, approval, understanding, kindness, gentleness, patience, guidance, care, protection…
Are you training to turn to Jesus to have your longings satisfied? All that He has is yours.
What does that look like for you to turn towards Him for your longings? I would love to hear what this looks like for others in their everyday life. Please share!
And if you wonder if He really cares, protects and shepherds you? The answer is YES!
Linking up this week with the following inspiring and encouraging blogs. I highly recommend visiting any and all of them!
Bless you and yours for your authenticity. Refreshing.
Hi Shandra—thank you for visiting and encouraging! May you and yours be blessed as well as you turn toward Christ in all of life!
Thanks for sharing your heart, Amy. I journal too, and it is a real comfort to go back through those pages and see where I was in my walk at those stages. I am sorry for your heavy heart, I will pray for you today, friend. You’re right, God has us at these stages in life for a reason. It’s super uncomfortable, though. I went through a real grieving process last year, and although God was with me each step of the way, I could not get out of that feeling of dread. I began committing Scripture to memory and flooding my iPhone notes with these verses, as well as writing them on 3×5 cards. It was a comfort to meditate on these Scriptures throughout the day.
Blessings to you.
HI Ruthie–I love your name — it is my little girl’s name! Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts…and for praying for me! I really appreciate you mentioning how your flooded your mind with scripture-using technology and paper…surrounding yourself with the truth. I do that at times–but I am not currently doing it about this particular situation and your note was such a wonderful reminder of something I’d like to do especially throughout this summer. Thanks!!!
Amen! He truly is the Good Shepherd 🙂
Amen! Thanks for stopping by!
I am sorry you are in the place you are but you lean on the Lord and He is always there. For that, I am grateful for you as well as for me.
The Shepherd and His sheep have always been filled with lessons for me. I have been amazed to learn just what Shepherds have done to protect their sheep and how vulnerable sheep are. The picture is so beautiful for me to learn just how loving Jesus is and how He wants me safe in His sight, in His arms.
Am lifting you in prayer…and …
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Hi Linda—thank you for your caring prayers! I love your heart! I too enjoy looking at those parallels between Jesus and a shepherd and us and the sheep. May we continue to be in awe of this and be moved to turn toward our Good Shepherd!
Lifting you up in prayer for God’s continued encouragement. I’m blessed by your comments on Christ as our Good Shepherd. This morning I was sinking into Jacob’s dream in Genesis. What struck me is that God makes himself accessible and even seeks us out when we are just on our way, doing our own thing. He goes with us wherever we go, even though we may not be aware of his presence. I’m so thankful. Joining you from #RaRaLinkUp.
Hi Ginger–I love the thoughts you’ve shared. It is truly revolutionary to me to think that He is with us where we go -even in our unawareness! I guess I know that but I don’t think about it. I so appreciate your thoughts toward this and your prayer for me! Thanks!
Oh, Amy, praying right now for your aching heart, and, Lord, please show yourself to be the God of all comfort. Provide for Amy in every way, and assure her that you are the Good Shepherd. May she feel the provision, the comfort, the anointing, the abundance, and the goodness and mercy that you give to your sheep.
Hi Michele–thanks so much for your prayer! How sweet it is to have people out there whom I’ve never met praying for me! I have been sensing His shepherding and it has been sweet! May you sense this too!
So comforting to know that He is our Shepherd and tends and cares for us. Stopping over as your neighbor on #livefreethursday.
Hi Katie–I’m so glad you were comforted to think of our Shepherd this past week! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing this glimpse into your heart, Amy. And your journal! I’m pretty protective with what I share from mine too. 🙂 Personal stuff.
That longing to see Jesus as our true Shepherd is common to so many of us. I’ve been on a relatively smooth path of late, so I am grateful, even as I cautiously wonder what will be around every corner. Thanks for the encouragement to keep believing that the I AM does and will continue to shepherd us!
Hi Lisa! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! Yes–even when things are going well—there is a cautiousness about what is around the next corner isn’t there? To know He is there too along with whatever comes our way ready to care for and protect is a comfort. May you sense His presence at each turn…
“Discouraged yet encouraged. Vulnerable yet protected. Lost yet being guided.” This is great! It really highlights the truth that even when we are in despair, we can still feel the joy of the Lord in our hearts, not in our circumstances. Visiting from #belovedbrews.
Hi Kristen–And that is the abundant life isn’t it? Abundance in the mist of loss. May we always turn to the Lord in the mist of our discouragement, vulnerability and losses. Thanks for visiting!
Amy,
Visiting from Bonnie’s link-up today and these words are so thoughtful! I love how you point out we can be both — encouraged and disheartened at the same time. Knowing that the shepherd has my entire lifespan in his sight is the most comforting thought of all – -and he will take care of me. Blessings to you today!
Valerie-I am so thankful for that–that we can experience both extremes-not just the negative extreme but also the positive. It is the wonderful reality of the abundant life in Christ. Thanks for visiting!
Friend. Yes. Yes, yes, all the things YES. Interesting how following Jesus is SUCH a paradox– two extremes, all at once, moving to a goal that we really haven’t experienced yet.
I so appreciate your vulnerability– and I am encouraged by this post. Thank you.
Hi Sharita! May we always look to Him as we experience this amazing paradox! Thanks for always visiting!
Amy, thank you for the beautiful encouragement today: “When Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd,” he teaches us to take our hopes to him.” #livefree
Kim Stewart
http://www.kimstewartinspired.com
Hi Kim…thanks for stopping by this week! May we always look to the Good Shepherd to lead, comfort and provide for us.
“I believe He is pleased and, perhaps, most glorified when we turn to Him for our needs and desires instead of what the world might give.”
This really stood out to me. I agree fully. I spent today looking for comfort in world things but none of it satisfies. He is a good shepherd and loves us dearly. He does not to withhold blessing from us but desires to give freely and abundantly. And yet, I keep forgetting this…
Discouraged yet encouraged. Vulnerable yet protected. Lost yet being guided. Yes, many times two opposites worked in my heart as I waiting for God’s timing. He is a Good Shepherd, all the time, even when His chastening rod has to correct us. Lovely post.
I am praying right now for your heart. I am so sorry it’s been a difficult week and I am asking God to show you tangible reminders of His presence, grace, and abundance. Your previous post is refreshing and filled with truth about who He is. For me to turn to Him with all my longings looks like a lot of on my knees prayer, but it also looks like a lot of hands held wide open. I’ve made Psalm 37:4 a life verse. I want His desires to fill me!
I love the openness and honesty of this post. Sharing a snippet from your journal has made you vulnerable before all of us but God redeems us with His love in those moments. Praying that as this week winds down you long hard after God knowing without a doubt that He is everything you need.
Blessed you shared this at The Weekend Brew. Have a blessed week!
Amy, I pray you light LIGHT and JOY. Hope and healing. From my heart to yours. Hugs
I’m so sorry to hear you are heavy hearted right now, Amy. Praying for you, my friend. You have encouraged me to do 2 very important things here. 1. Start a journal that’s just between me and Jesus. 2. Turn to Him more. Being a fairly new Christian, I struggle to remember my first line of defense for any situation should be Jesus. I still try to do too much on my own and I’m definitely not a good Shepherd ;).
By the way, I love that painting. What a fantastic gift!
Your blog is amazing! Wow! This post was so beautiful.
Ashley from http://southgraceandcoffee.blogspot.com/
Hi Ashley–I”m a bit behind on blogging comments but wanted to thank you for visiting my blog and encouraging!