Upheld While Watching the Shepherd

I’ve been talking about leadership. It is sometimes a series of hard decisions and overshadowing issues that must be waded through. Is it a privilege? A call from God?

I sometimes wonder why God calls those whom He does. Aren’t the people who lead supposed to be self-assured, confident and always knowing the right thing to do? No, I don’t suppose so, from what I hear from leaders around me. It’s why there are dinner meetings and networking circles.

I am grateful the advice I get from other leaders who have experienced what I face. It’s helpful to know that they have agonized over something. Yeah – not just puzzled, or wondered, or made a decision they hoped would work. But – when I know they have lost sleep and struggled with a decision, I can trust them to guide me and point me in a good direction.

The Scriptures talk about the Shepherd and the sheep. I want to be like the Shepherd. He gave Himself to care for His own sheep in every way. What a charge to leaders! How can we possibly live up to His example? Especially when our sheep are butting heads and biting butts (er…sorry). I tend to want to take the Shepherd’s Staff and wield it with various results. However, that’s exactly what NOT to do!

The Shepherd gently leads His sheep. He provides clean, clear, cool, refreshing water for them. He provides green grass to nourish them and give them a comfortably safe place to sleep. How He loves His sheep! Even when they are ornery and insist on their own way. That’s when He goes after them to bring them back to the place of health and strength.

I may be in a place of leadership that gets difficult at times, but I am so thankful to be in the sheep pasture of the Good Shepherd who loves me.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Names’ sake” Psalm 23:1-3.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Psalm 23:6.