In Betwixt and Between! Up and Down! Good Times and Bad Times!

The 23^rd Psalm shows us a picture of who the Good Shepherd is and how he cares for his flock. It doesn’t say he’s the “Good Shepherd” but, we can see in the passage how he leads the sheep and that he is not an evil shepherd. He’s kind and loving; good to his sheep.

I was praying yesterday, and this understanding came to me.

He leads us in paths of righteousness, but along the way evil lurks. Like for instance, even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death and into places where our enemy dwells we don’t need to fear. He doesn’t leave us unprotected. He’s always right there. He uses a rod and a staff. They are extensions of him, he uses them as a weapon, or, for comfort.

Perhaps you’ve been harassed at work. Maybe you’ve been bullied at school. Maybe an illness has taken your strength and you feel helpless and hopeless. The Shepherd is right there with you. Even if, he’s out of your sight, you are never out of his. He will prepare a table for you to sit at in the very presence of your enemies, they may be there, but so is he.

The Lord is your shepherd. He anoints your head with oil. When those tormenting thoughts come, to rob you of your peace, Holy oil is poured into your mind by His Spirit and the word. The anointing oil cleanse’s your soul and causes the enemy to slide off into oblivion. The Yahweh Roi (my Shepherd) restores your soul. The heart runs over with love, like a cup being filled, overflowing with gratitude and grace.

Maybe you have a decision to make but you’re not sure which way to go. He leads you in paths of righteousness. He will guide you on the right path. Follow him, he won’t lead you into darkness, His pathway is lit up every step of the way.

You may ask, “How can I follow what I can’t see?” It is called walking by faith. He gives you peace in your heart and mind that’s how you know he’s leading you and that you’re on the right path.

There will definitely be roadblocks along your journey. Detours. Rocky roads. Challenges to overcome. Setbacks and discouragement. But if you are following the Good Shepherd, He knows the way. The roadblocks will become smooth pavements. The detours will become peaceful shortcuts to your destination. The challenges will become thankful learning opportunities. The setbacks will become waiting-times so that you can grow, heal, and receive His joy for strength and patience to make intelligent decisions. Discouragement will turn into encouragement you’ll become bold and courageous. When you’re following the Good Shepherd, He knows all the best roads and pathways, like green pastures and still waters.

Life is not meant to stay the same. It’s like a mighty river always flowing, always moving. It takes the wind, and the rain along with twists and turns.

The wind is sometimes gentle and sometimes it’s a powerful force. The rain washes away the dirt and keeps everything fresh and clean it hydrates the earth.

Twists and turns cause us to trust, even in the midst of chaos, the only one who knows the way.

Change is a constant reminder that we are not in control, just when we think we have everything figured out, life happens and throws us for a loop. If we rebel and try to make our own way, if we are unrulily and cause others to fall. If we are self-willed and want everything our own way, we soon realize we are on the wrong path, and nothing goes our way. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep. He watches them, calls to them, feeds them, loves and cares for them. He fights for them, sleeps with them, anoints them with healing oil to keep them healthy and out of trouble. He knows when they are hurt and when they are at ease. Just like a parent who disciplines their child, the Good Shepherd also disciplines the disobedient sheep. He must or the whole flock will become infected, sick and die.

Again, this morning as I listened to the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit, and I have to say I can’t think this stuff up, not with my aged brain, lol! He began telling me that each person is a ripple. I visualized the ripple effect in water and how it starts with one drop and expands bigger and bigger it appears to stop. But the Lord said, it goes on even into eternity. Our ripple reaches to infinity. How cool is that? We influence others and they in turn influence us for either goodness or for evil forever.

Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!!

Even if you had the greatest mind that every existed, and you were physically the strongest and most brilliant with all the talents and the wealthiest to ever live. Without the Lord, the Good Shepherd, you’d be crushed in life. Because without Him, there are things in this life you would not be able to survive. It’s just too impossible without Him!!

With Him even in sickness, and heartache and death you have Hope that Goodness and Mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the House of the Lord forever! Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill February 16, 2022

Psalm 23 A psalm of David.

¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ²He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

 ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 Psalm 121 New International Version – A song of ascents.

 ¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? ²My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ³He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; ⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.