In Psalm 23, the psalmist says, God will lead us beside still waters and restore our souls. The prophet Ezekiel explains further about this Good Shepherd in verse 11, “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.” The Good shepherd will never keep us in want. He would provide for our needs. His rod, which symbolizes authority, will guide and protect us from the enemy’s snares. His staff will support and comfort us.

There have been moments where I felt that I was drifting and I would hear a verse of a Gospel song in my spirit, and as I listen to the song, it ministers to the deepest need of my heart. Or other times when I felt I was drowning in a pit and the flesh was resisting all that’s spiritual, I would hear Father God whisper “read this psalm” or “open the Bible”. And as I do, in obedience, I find out that particular word is the exact word I needed and I would ponder on it for days on as the Good Shepherd was replenishing and restoring my soul. He is the ‘perfect one’, the faithful God we serve. Since we have been baptised and grafted in Christ he would not let us go, or allow us to wander away from him.

Once I was troubled over a work situation and disappointed over the behaviour of a person, who was meant to uphold righteousness. Fear and anger gripped me and I was falling ill. I had also felt sad over father figures in my life in general and it was during this season of despair that I was in church one day kneeling in prayer when I heard the Lord say, “I AM your Father and you are my daughter. Don’t you think I could send down an army of angels to protect you?” His presence overwhelmed me and I had received his peace, and more importantly a clear revelation of who God is to me.

On this solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ the King, let us remember that the answer to our questions is not out there. It is in ‘knowing’ that God is our father. He is our Lord and King. We need to grow in the knowledge of who we belong to. We are the beloved sheep of the Good Shepherd, sons and daughters of the “Father” who will never fail or forsake us.

“Be passionate about truth, so that, with your dreams, you can say: “My life is not captive to the mindset of the world: I am free, because I reign with Jesus for justice, love and peace! With Jesus, I too am a king”. I too reign: as a living sign of the love of God, of his compassion and his tenderness. And whenever I fall, I discover anew in Jesus the courage to continue fighting and hoping.” (Pope Francis)

Prayer: Abba Father, rescue, protect and reassure me. Let your rod and staff lead and comfort me. Amen.