The Good Shepherd 2
Hi guys!!!
Welcome back!!!!!
I hope you enjoyed the last post! Surrender has been something the Lord has been teaching me this season, and honestly, surrendering has been challenging.
As a recovering control freak and perfectionist, the idea of relinquishing control to someone else has, at times, felt like stepping into the unknown. As I have tried to release my grip on the reins of my life, a series of questions have swirled through my head:
“How can I be certain that everything will be okay?”
“How do I trust that He will truly take care of me?”
“Am I yielding to a potential tyrant?”
And if you can relate to these concerns, the fear of the unknown will always be a catalyst for anxiety and an obstacle to complete submission. However, through this season, I have learned that complete submission requires an understanding of the One to whom we are surrendering our lives, because surrendering to a stranger will always birth anxiety, fear, and distrust.
If we are being honest, sometimes anxiety is caused by our lack of trust in God’s leadership, and our lack of trust is due to our perception of His character. Due to sin and our human frailty, sometimes we see God through a distorted lens. Consequently, instead of recognizing God’s goodness, we perceive a perverted view of His leadership. We see a tyrant, a dictator, or even a selfish ruler. However, a close examination of God’s character does not reveal a tyrant but a loving Father—a Father who loved us so much that He gave His Son.
Let’s consider Jesus, a Shepherd who loved us so deeply that He put our interests before His very own life. And if He loved us so much that He shed His blood, we can be confident that He will not withhold anything good for us. He will not mistreat you; the One who shed His blood for human life cannot mismanage your life. You can be rest assured that He has your best interests at heart.
And that’s who you are surrendering your life to. So you’re not merely giving your life to an unknown force in the sky; you are surrendering to someone who has proven His loyalty to you. You are surrendering to God’s goodness, His kindness, and His love. When you truly know Him and understand where He is leading you, it becomes much easier to submit.
That’s what it means to have the Lord as your Shepherd.
Therefore, you do not have to strive and hustle for your well-being; someone else is carrying that burden. Like a child, you do not have to worry about your needs because you know that He will take care of them. This realization should provide contentment and peace to the anxious and weary soul. However, if, like me, you often feel anxious, it may mean you have forgotten whose care you are under. Sometimes, it means you need to stop. Stop and fall into His loving hands.
Falling
I’m falling.
I’ve lost balance,
My feet are no longer touching the ground.
When I look around,
There’s no structure of support,
And nothing for me to hold on to
Like a freefall dive,
I’m falling.
My hands are no longer writing my story,
My intellect is no longer steering me.
My mind is no longer in the driver’s seat,
My anxiety is no longer directing me.
Daddy,
I’m falling.
Into a bed of uncertainty
And crumbled plans and wishes.
But for once,
I’m okay with it.
Because I know that wherever I land,
I will fall into your hands.
And one day,
I’ll look back,
And agree that falling
Was the best decision I’ve made.
“Siri, play ‘I’m Done Writing’ by Kaytez Kanu”
