Cast Sheep

Psalm 23:3b,  "He restores my soul."

      Have you ever heard of a cast sheep?  Sheep have short legs and heavy bodies.  Sometimes when they lie down, especially if there is a small depression in the ground, they roll over in such a way that they are unable to get up without help.  They are easy prey for predators, and they will eventually die if no one comes along to set them back on their feet.

      Good shepherds are always watching their flocks closely to be sure there are no cast sheep.  If a shepherd sees such a sheep, he hurries to its side, gently stands it back up, and supports it until it can walk steadily again.

      I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when I felt like a cast sheep, times when I was so overwhelmed with circumstances or grief or my own sinfulness that I was unable to get up and get going again without help.  Fortunately, we have a Good Shepherd Who watches over us carefully.  When we are down and out and struggling to recover, He comes alongside.  He doesn't chide us for our weakness, as we might expect Him to do.  Instead, He gently sets us back up on our feet, encourages our hearts, patiently steadies us as we wobble along, and works with us until we are ready to go again.  He may do some of this through other people.  After all, people are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

      Our Good shepherd walks with us to guide us, to watch over us, to protect us, to forgive us, to comfort us, and to strengthen us all along lilfe's pathway.  When we depend upon Him, we are less likely to become helpless again, but, if we do, we can be assured that he will be right there with us to give us the help we need.

Thank You, Good shepherd, that You are the help of the helpless.  May we be Your hands and feet to others when they need encouragement and support.  Amen.