“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them.”
John 10:11-12
The Challenge To Trust
Do you ever have a difficult time trusting God? Is it tempting to trust in other resources, people, or even yourself when God’s way does not seem to make sense? We’ve all experienced circumstances when we’ve tried to follow Jesus closely, but something made us question His plan, His presence, or even His character.
These are the times when it is vital to lean on the unshakeable truth of God’s pure love and divine sovereignty—not on our own finite understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we choose to believe that God loves us and is sovereign over our lives, we can’t help but to follow Him. He is the Good Shepherd, and He has laid down His life for the sheep—that’s us.
Not A Hired Hand
Jesus is not a hired hand in a sheep pen. He does not work for money or selfish gain. He does not leave us to our own devices as the snatched and the scattered. Instead, Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. His life was not taken from Him on the cross; He willingly laid it down to give us eternal life (John 10:18). And His desire is for people to come into His flock and remain in His love.
He is a pursuer of people—even the one sheep who goes astray (Luke 15:1-7). He deeply cares for us because we belong to Him.
The Good Shepherd
As human beings, we sometimes ignore Jesus and turn to people or things for what seems to be immediate satisfaction. But the truth is this: nothing can ever replace the real thing. There is only one Good Shepherd who satisfies our every need. When we make Him our refuge and dwelling place, He protects us, delivers us, and answers our prayers, displaying His salvation over and over again (Psalm 91:9-16). He restores our brokenness and leads us along paths of righteousness and goodness.
When we trust Christ as our Good Shepherd, we are no longer the snatched and the scattered. We are the secure and the gathered. And nothing can separate us from His love or snatch us out of His hand (Romans 8:38-39; John 10:28-30).
Now What?
How do you need to trust Jesus today? Do you need to receive His forgiveness and new life? Or do you need His help returning home? Do you need Him to bind up your wounds? Or do you maybe need His strength, comfort, and joy?
Ask and trust the Good Shepherd to provide for your need today. He is the answer, He is trustworthy, and He is the only One worth following.
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