This is a blog entry I posted on 15 March, 2007:

It's been a little while since I've blogged and I'm sorry for that, but I'd rather have something to say than just post an entry because it's been a couple of days.

This morning during my quiet time with God, I read a couple of scriptures that made an interesting connection for me and I felt led to share them so here goes:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23: 1-3)

Psalm 23 (KJV) is a familiar passage to most people, both believers and nonbelievers alike, and I've read it myself many times. Although there's so much to learn from this short passage, today I was struck by the emphasis on the shepherd leading (it's mentioned twice in the first two verses!)... and the sheep following.

As Christians, we are raised to know Jesus to be our Shepherd, but what is a "shepherd" in the first place? Wikipedia defines the duty of a shepherd this way: "to keep their flock intact and protect it from wolves and other predators."  In other words, to keep our lives together and for our own safety from those that want to harm us, we need to follow the shepherd and trust that He's looking out for our best interests.

But where is the Shepherd leading us? Let's refer back to the Psalm:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23: 4)

I'm not sure there's anyplace worse than the valley of the shadow of death. I'll point out that it's not the Shepherd who created the grim surroundings, He's simply acting as our guide through them. Many of us can relate to this idea in our own lives as we deal with circumstances that are beyond anything we can handle and seasons that fill our hearts with sorrow.

So we're offered a rod and staff?!? When that's the only consolation we're given we don't always feel the comfort we'd hoped for. Sometimes we desire something more encouraging and when we don't find it we're apt to give up or grow fearful. Again, we're in good company when we consider those that followed Jesus.

"And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those that followed were fearful."  (Mark 10:32)

Here we're shown people who are in the presence of Jesus Himself and they are afraid and uncertain about the path that lay ahead. This man Who had performed miracles in front of them and was able to share great truths about eternity was still unable to keep those closest to Him from getting nervous. In light of this, who can blame us for faltering and growing weary as we continue along a path leading into the unknown?  It's when we're in the darkest times that we can fall off the path or want to stop moving forward and we need to trust and allow Him to lead us, even though we're fearful and uncertain that we will persist - because of what awaits those that stay on the path and come to the other side:

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  (Psalm 23: 5-6)

There are times when the only thing we can cling to in the face of dispair is the promise of what's to come. It may not seem like it's enough, but we consider the Source and look at His track record throughout history. I know from experience that there's no pain that lasts forever but when it seems terminal, we need to remember the Shepherd that's leading the way. For Jesus, even death wasn't the final chapter - and we're offered the same hope. We've just got to hang in there and continue to step in the tracks he leaves behind.

Though I wrote this a year ago, I find it applicable to today.  I will continue to follow my Shepherd wherever He leads and rejoice that one day I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.