Today’s devotional is for the person who doesn’t know what will happen next. I’ve been reading the Psalms these past few weeks during my devotional time, and I can’t help but think of Psalm 23. You know this one: “The Lord is my shepherd.”
Sit with what that means for a moment. May the Lord be our Shepherd, may he truly guide our every step, may he wait for us when we wander, may he lift us up when we stumble, may he lead us to refreshing waters that will nourish our souls.
The sheep are totally dependent on the protection of the shepherd. One of my favorite things I learned about sheep is that shepherds in the ancient East would sing or call to their flocks of sheep as they walked near and behind them.
So, because they sang to them as they walked, the sheep would learn the voice of the shepherd who guided them on their path. The sheep would know their shepherd’s voice so well that even if they stopped to fetch water near another shepherd’s flock, all their shepherd would have to do is sing his song, and his sheep would follow. .
How much more should you and I know the voice of our Heavenly Father?
To the person right now who doesn’t know what happens next…I’ll be honest with you. I’m also going through some things in my life and I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I had several months where I just didn’t know. What should happen the next day? I pray over and over for deliverance and see nothing.
So, what if it’s okay that we don’t know what’s next? What if it was normal that we couldn’t see far in our lives?
Almost everyone I know right now is in some sort of life transition: raising a family, dealing with job changes, caring for sick parents. We are tired. We are overwhelmed. And we’re just waiting… waiting to find out where we’re going and what’s supposed to happen next.
But what if it’s okay that we don’t know?
If we can learn in this time what it means to stay close to God – to know His voice and be guided by His hand – then I think we may discover that our Good Shepherd is all we need going forward.
Spend time meditating on Psalm 23 this week:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters. He renews my life; he leads me on good paths to because of his name. Even though I pass through the darkest valley, I will fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live” (CSB).
Host biography
Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communications at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I will see you tomorrow And It’s not your turn. Contact Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email in your inbox every Friday evening at 7pm EST. Register now on: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.
