The Good Shepherd

The time had come to enroll my firstborn in preschool. We began looking at options, and I immediately felt overwhelmed. How would I know what would be a good fit for her? How would I know if it would be a good fit for my son in a few years? Or for the baby growing in my belly? Would the same class attend kindergarten together? Should we do private or public school? 

All the questions. All the stress. For a part-time preschool program.

It sounds silly now, but it happens to all of us. Should I take the job or stay put? Should I continue the relationship or walk away? Should I speak or hold my breath? Discerning God’s will can seem elusive at times. It leaves us restless. Nervous. Stressed. 

It’s here when our choices can become a point of worship. We crave direction over the Director, value our steps of obedience over the One who already obeyed, or long for great wisdom over a relationship with the man who personified wisdom himself. We have good intentions, but we seem to forget two particular realities about our God: he leads, and he gives freedom.

In John chapter 10, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). He colors in the narrative for us by teaching that he lays his life down for his sheep, he owns his sheep, and he cares for his sheep. [1] This is how we know we can trust him.

At the cross, we see the visible and literal display of his life being laid down. He took our place. And in taking our place, he purchased us with his blood, bringing us into his kingdom. We are forever his. But we also see a persistent use of family language throughout Scripture. We can call God “Father”, and Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us brothers. [2] He cares for us the way the best parent can care for his child, the way the best brother can look out for his sibling. Wherever we’re at in life, the Lord is pleased to be with us. 

We also see God give us freedom to make choices. The CSB translation phrases the opportunity for Adam like this: “The Lord God… brought each (animal) to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name,” (Genesis 2:19). God let Adam decide. There are times we might be faced with comparable options, and we have the freedom to pick whichever we prefer. 

Whatever our situation, may our worship be ascribed to the one who leads perfectly and protectively, in complete willingness to give up his life for another. And may our worship be ascribed to the one who acted on the opportunity. “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord,” (John 10:17b-18). In his freedom, Christ chose us.

My baby girl that was going into preschool is now years beyond that season. I laugh looking back, because we had no idea how much would change. Covid closed her sweet school before the year was up. Job changes moved us across the country. And all three kids ended up going to different preschools. Yet God was with us all the same.

We’ll never have all the wisdom necessary to make a decision. We’ll never have the capacity to see all the pieces. But that’s okay. The character of the Lord and his gospel message can remain our meditation. Our guarantee. Our anchor. We can always ask God for counsel, and praise Him for the times he makes our direction clear. And when his voice seems silent, we can rely on what has already been said, what forever will be true. He is the Good Shepherd. He will care for his flock, and he will not fail his job. 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you.
– Isaiah 26:3-4

Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
– Isaiah 52:12

[1] John 10: 11-13
[2] Romans 8:15, Hebrews 2:11

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Related: The Lord is my Shepherd – Psalm 23, Part 1
Walking the Path
Hearing from God
Did I Just Mess Up My Life?

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He will not be afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 
– Psalm 112:7-8