Follow the Good Shepherd– and He will keep you from being overwhelmed by the adversity you experience during the day. Everyday will have its problems, but by staying focused on the Lord, and His Love for you, He will make sure that your trials are not more than you can humanly bear alone. Do not lose heart and quit over problems of the moment. Call upon the resurrection power of Christ to renew your spirit. Just remember …He is there for you… always. (Matthew 28:20– And be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.)
Just like the shepherds in Jesus’ time, He goes ahead of you, on the path He has set for you this day, making sure that it is safe…. But if you do stumble or wander into the bushes during the day, He is right there to pick you up, or pull you from the bushes, soothe your fears and emotions, and get you back on track.
(Psalm 23:1-4 KJV– 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. 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 staff they comfort me.)
When the stresses and strains of your day( job, traffic, relationships, and the ever present obnoxious people) wear you down, don’t give in to the evil one and give up… Instead just think small, quick, calming thoughts of the Lord holding His hand out to you, preparing to pull you into the soothing refuge and peace of His arms to protect you from your adversity.
Being aware of the Lord’s presence during times of trials enables you to connect with His Peace and His strength, so He can then do the heavy lifting for you, as you both work together, facing your problems head on, without fear, and that horrible sense of being alone in the storms of life.
(2 Corinthians 4 verse 16-18– 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.)
By relying on the Presence of your Good Shepherd, you can calmly walk through the day, knowing that you are not alone, and that He will help to handle whatever comes your way during the day.
The Lord is our only true security, not money, relationships, possessions, power or status…All those things can and will collapse and then we fall. Those with God are thus safe. Those without God must always be cautious. But because God is our refuge, we can dare to be bold.
My prayer for this day:
Lord, thank you for being with me during this day’s journey through the trials and unexpected troubles that “just happen.” It is reassuring to know that You are ready at all times to provide strength, wisdom, and a mindset of peace, to even the most chaotic of situations. Lord, I ask of your Holy Spirit to teach me more, each day, on how to keep my mind focused on your Presence, and your Peace, in stressful situations that have, in the past, caused me to panic and give up. Lord, hold my hand tightly in these situations, and lead me in your Peace. Amen
