I’ve had some respite along the way and recently asked God if we were nearly done, is it over!? Not yet it seems, we are still going, back in the fire. Potentially spiritual warfare this week as well, as my Deborah Retreats business is close to launching and this is the area in which I have been heavily attacked this week.
Painful, challenging, sorrowful. Thank God He has given us assurance in His word regarding these times, that we all must go through this process, to become more like Him. A spit and polish until the master sees His image reflected in us. James 1:2-3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
This verse reminds me to consider it a joy and not to give up, for He is producing in me a steadfast love.
This week in particular I have been meditating on Psalm 23, a classic and a goodie, for a reason. It was during prayer that the Lord reminded me of this Psalm and the image of Him as the Shepherd. And I really leant into that.
This week during the hardships and warfare I leant on God more than ever and sought Him constantly, like a needy child. I was craving love and assurance. This was not a time for me to retreat from Him.
And it was one of these moments in prayer that I felt Him show me the picture of the Shepherd, the keeper and say “Come to me”.
And so I did. Initially I pictured myself as a sprightly young white lamb leaping into the Shepherd’s arms, and then I quickly retracted that as I reminded myself that Jesus is lamb of God, without blemish. And so then I became a big, old sheep. A ‘ewe’, in fact, fairly unkempt, my wool covered in smudges of brown dirt, quite smelly, and well past the prime of her youth. “Eunice” (pronounced Ewe-nice) the matriarch of the sheep flock took shape in my thoughts with God, some would consider her ‘mutton’ though not to her face.
And so Eunice, walking in the green pastures with her Shepherd. Maybe she was a bit upset that her lambs were growing up and leaving the flock to join others flocks. Maybe she had felt lately that her ram had not been giving her enough love and affection. Maybe she had found herself comparing herself to other ewes in the flock, instead of keeping her eyes fixed forward on her Shepherd. Maybe she was concerned for her health or that of a fellow sheep in her flock. Maybe she was just having a bad day. But the Shepherd noticed, and as they arrived at their destination for the evening, He said “come to me”. So over she trotted to Him, and before she could let out a bleat he got down on the grass and she launched her big bulky weight into His lap. She expected a complaint, but He didn’t let out a protest, and as she looked up into His face with tears in her eyes and let out a sob, He looked down at her and His eyes were filled with compassion, grace, a glint of humour and overwhelming love.
He lifted his hand to pat her head and gently whispered ‘there, there’.
Oh that set Eunice off.
She poured out her bleats for hours, snotting his robes and even passing wind at times, but He didn’t mind.
The Shepherd continued to listen, pat her wool with soothing strokes and reassure her with kind words like,
“Shush now, how about you get some sleep”
And so Eunice nestled into the Shepherds lap, soothed by His presence she eventually drifted off to sleep.
As dawn arose the next day, the Shepherd gently lifted her to the meadow floor and got up to check on the rest of the flock.
As he returned, Eunice began to wake. She looked up at Him as He gazed down at her with love and concern in His eyes. Time to get up Eunice. We have ground to cover today. But stay close, we’ll walk together.
Ok, she replied, I will stay close, don’t ever leave me.
I never will, I am your keeper. Just follow me and you will be safe.
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Don't miss the opportunity to put God first and allow Him the space to speak into your life.
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