Several years ago, I was given a figurine of Jesus holding an adoring lamb with two other sheep playing at his feet.  It has become a treasured possession.  It reminds me of myself and of Psalm 23, a favorite scripture passage.

I like to tease my grandchildren that I am the one in his arms.  They assume, I suppose, that I think I’m special—that I think He loves me most.  That is not the case at all.  Rather, I see myself as the wayward one, the one who kept needing special attention because I had gotten myself lost or into trouble.

Perhaps you have heard it said that in ancient times a shepherd would sometimes break the leg of a wayward lamb to keep it from wandering away or leading the other sheep into harm’s way.  He would then bandage the leg and carry the injured lamb on his shoulders until the leg healed.  By that time, the lamb would become so attached to the shepherd that she would no longer wander but would stay close to her caregiver.

After much research, I cannot verify that this is fact.   What is true, however, is that many of us are like wayward sheep; and we end up breaking our own legs making it necessary for the Shepherd to search for us, bind up our wounds, carry us, and restore us.  We tend to chase after the things of this world that appear wonderful, and then we find ourselves attacked by Satan, eating slop in a pig pen like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), or falling helplessly into a slimy pit of despair.  In other words, many of us are prone to go our own way while others of us are just downright rebellious.

As for me, I can be a wanderer, and that is the real reason I see myself as the one in Jesus’ arms.  As a child, I was timid and frightened and just wanted some measure of stability in my life.  When I grew up and could make my own choices, I turned into a control freak who wanted her own way and desired to control not only myself but also those closest to me.

An insecure people pleaser, I had an “ought to” list that dominated my life.   I found it hard to say “no” and often overextended myself.  What resulted was a person with too much to do and too many commitments.

I also tried to live with one foot in the world and one in the church.  I served the Lord out of a sense of duty.  I wanted all that this world had to offer as well as my place in God’s kingdom. It did not work!  What Jesus said was very true, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].  (Matthew 6:24 AMP)

Over time, I developed numerous “idols” in my life—possessions, prestige, house, cars, work, clothes, and even alcohol to relieve the stress and strain.   Instead of having the happiness that this world promises, I ended up nervous, overworked, and stressed out.  I was anything but peaceful, joyful, and happy.

My life was falling apart, I couldn’t sleep, I was having panic attacks, my marriage was in jeopardy.  Finally, after a particularly horrendous night, I surrendered.  Like a cast sheep–one that is on its back and can’t get back up–I was totally exhausted.  I lay on my back begging and pleading the Good Shepherd to rescue me and give me a fresh start.  Thankfully, He heard my plea and granted me a new beginning.

While He was carrying me close to his heart, I finally learned what it meant to live in a love relationship with him.  I no longer wanted to serve him out of duty but out of love.  He carried me for a very long time until I learned to be more obedient and to stay close to him.  Then He put me down and taught me to walk beside him.  Finally one day, to my utter amazement, He hung a bell around my neck, and asked me to call other wayward sheep to him.  I was a bell sheep!

My walk with him has not been perfect.  Living in this world is hard.  Satan is always out to get us. I have had to deal with problems, heartache, disappointments, the loss of loved ones, and sickness just like everyone else.   But during those hard times, my communion with the Good Shepherd has grown sweeter and sweeter.  He has continued to pick me up and carry me when I could not carry myself.  After each crisis, He has comforted me until I was strong enough for him to put me down and let me walk again.  The things of this world have continued to fade as my attention to the Shepherd has continued to grow.

Perhaps you’ve become a cast sheep.  Perhaps you’ve been the wayward one, gotten yourself into lots of trouble, wandered off, or fallen in the slimy pit.  Perhaps you’ve tried to do it all and found that you are tired, stressed out, joyless, unhappy, and miserable.  Perhaps you’re the one the Good Shepherd is calling.  If so, I encourage you to give up and answer him.  Allow him to rescue you, comfort you, and nurture you.  Allow him to carry you. And then, in time, let him put you back down to walk close to his side, eventually ringing the bell to call other lost sheep to him.  What an honor to be a bell sheep calling, “This way to Jesus!”

He is waiting and ready to welcome you with open arms.  Come!

“So Jesus told them this story:  “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”  (Luke 5:3-7 NLT)

 

By the way, sheep sometimes have trouble sleeping.  If that’s you’re situation, I encourage you to get your free guide to Finding Rest and Peace on Sleepless Nights by clicking the “Get It Now” button at the top of the page.   Also, if you have comments, I’d love to hear from you.

“May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
 May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26