“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:2-5 (NIV)
Do we place our confidence in our own abilities to lead and guide and direct our steps or in the Great Shepherd’s? We often give Him the reigns of our lives and then quickly snatch them away when things turn in a direction far from our choosing. Filled with anxiety and discouragement we quickly jump into action humanly thinking of the best way to get out of the circumstances – fast. Perhaps even aborting the mission God has us on right then and there simply because it is not one we would have chosen. I am so thankful that the Apostle Paul didn’t sit in his “prison experience” - whiling his time away - seeking to get out of his circumstances rather than writing the prison letters we continue to read and be encouraged by in Scripture to this day. Don’t be mistaken I am not stating we should not seek to end unpleasant circumstances when possible, rather we are not to be consumed by this thought. We are, however, to look up and listen, search the Word and seek His will and His way. He will show us what He would have us to be about exactly where He has placed us. Our God has a plan for each life and it behooves us to stand firm in it. Ask me how I know.
Our distorted views of reality are often shaped by fear or the great desire of wanting what we do not have or having what we do not want. God is about conforming us into the image of His Son and He uses our circumstances to bring this about – even (and probably especially) the most difficult ones. We seldom seem to learn when all is going swimmingly well. Jesus is leading and guiding us home and my faith lies in Him and not in my keen abilities or my endurance. Our hope is to be based on His ability to guide us. He does not make mistakes and nothing takes Him by surprise. We are His sheep and He has already proven He will lay down His life for us. We are not privy to the end of the story from the beginning as He is either. Therefore, we go forth in faith knowing He has our best interest at heart in all He allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)