The Lord is My Shepherd
Let me tell you a story about a man named Anton. Anton grew up in church. His mother sang hymns while folding laundry. His grandmother prayed over every meal. Church was all he knew. Church was his lifestyle. But in his twenties, Anton walked away. He was tired of religion and bitter over unanswered prayers after losing his father unexpectedly. For years, Anton wandered. He worked odd jobs, moved to different cities, and drifted further from the faith he once knew. He told himself he was fine, but deep down, he was lonely and directionless, like a sheep without a shepherd.
One cold evening, while walking home after a long shift, he saw an elderly man on a park bench, feeding pigeons and humming softly. As Anton passed by, the man said, “You look like you're carrying something heavy.” Surprised, Anton stopped. The man looked him straight in the eyes and said gently, “The Shepherd hasn’t forgotten you. He’s still looking for you.”
Those words pierced Anton’s heart. He sat down and they talked. The old man turned out to be a retired pastor who came to the park daily to pray and talk with strangers. That conversation stirred something deep in Anton. The next Sunday, he found himself sitting in a small church at the edge of town, tears streaming down his face, as the congregation sang, Amazing Grace. Anton wasn’t just returning to church. He was returning to the Shepherd who had never stopped seeking him.
There’s something so comforting about the image of God as our Shepherd. Shepherds know their sheep. They guide, protect, provide, and most importantly, they rescue. Psalm 23 gives us this beautiful picture of God's care, and in Luke 15, Jesus reveals just how far He will go for just one lost sheep.
Psalm 23 tells us, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." This isn’t just poetry or fine language, it’s a promise. God isn’t distant or disinterested. He is personal, involved, and attentive to each one of His sheep. In Luke 15:4, Jesus asks, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine...?" The answer is yes. The answer is always yes. The world says, “If it’s just one, let it go.” But Jesus says, “If it’s just one, I’ll go.”
You may feel like the one who wandered too far. Maybe your past is heavy. Maybe your doubts are loud. Maybe, like Anton, you’ve sat in darkness thinking no one noticed you were gone. But God notices. The Shepherd sees. And He pursues. He’s not passive, He leaves the 99. He searches in the storm. He calls your name. And when He finds you, He doesn’t scold or chastise. He rejoices. He lifts you up and carries you home.
In this time of fasting, of If you feel like you're lost, hear this clearly: You are not forgotten. The Lord is still your Shepherd. He still walks valleys to find you. And even now, He calls gently, “Come home.” You don’t have to rescue yourself. Just turn, and you'll find the Shepherd already near.
God Bless You