Strengthen Day 14 - Saturday - March 12, 2022
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
Our courtship was unique, to say the least. For nine months my husband and I sought the Lord as to whether or not we should marry, and while waiting to determine His will for us was tough, it taught us some deep and abiding truths as well.
One day I cried out to the Lord and asked, “Can you just give me an answer? Is he the one?” I felt the Holy Spirit ask me, “Do you trust me?” Of course, I thought, but that doesn’t answer my question. A simple yes or no is all I need. Repeatedly I felt the Spirit, rather than answering what I felt was the most important and pressing question, ask, “Do you trust me?”
In that season, I learned that, “Yes, but,” is not the appropriate response. Forget the “but”; I trust you regardless Lord. My answer can and should be, “Yes, period.” Truthfully, if I trust Him, I don’t need Him to answer my most burning and pressing questions. I can move forward in the quiet assurance that He’s got it. And that’s good enough.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). What do sheep do? They don’t worry. They don’t fret about things that are out of their control. Have you ever seen a sheep fretting about the possibility that they could be eaten by a wolf two months from now? Or that maybe there won’t be enough food in the pasture next week? Of course not. Sheep have very few expectations placed upon them other than to listen to and obey the voice of their shepherd. If they follow the shepherd, He will provide their basic needs. He ensures they are rested and restored. He will protect them from any threats or danger.
Numerous times in the Bible we are compared to sheep. Sheep don’t need to know all the details as long as they trust their Shepherd.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10: 27-30).
If you haven’t heard a “yes” or “no” to the questions you’ve been asking the Lord, take heart that you can trust Him, regardless. May that revelation comfort and sustain you as you continue to seek His will!
Reflection: What question have you been asking God that you have not received an answer to? Is there a response from Him that you don’t want to hear but know He has been speaking? How have questions been answered by God and your faith strengthened?