I am His Sheep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUT4trsrBCw&index=15&list=RDN8WK9HmF53w

Different ~ Micah Tyler

The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. ~ PSALM 23:1-3 AMP

Having been in the valley for over a year, I can attest to how much I have felt like a sheep. There were many times I wanted to go my own way, to stay a “stay-at-home” mom. But my Shepherd helped to steer me on His path. During these last four weeks of watching my grandpa slip away, having more job-doors close on us, and suddenly losing my father-in-law, my Shepherd saw that I was becoming worn down and weary. That’s when He led me along paths that were filled with time to rest and plenty of nourishment. He’s also been bringing refreshment to my soul by bringing family and friends, whom I don’t often see, to town. He does it not only because He can, but because He wants to do it.

For my God—my Shepherd—it wasn’t enough to heal and hold me. His desire is to open my eyes to the beauty He’s making of our lives, encouraging us to keep following Him. It was for His purposes that He brought us 1500 miles away to Wisconsin, where we’d get to meet and reconnect with friends and family who used to be 1500 miles away. Yes, 81 job-doors have been closed on us (on Brad), but we only needed to find the right ONE to open. That one wasn’t at all what we expected, but part of following our Shepherd is experiencing unexpected blessings and changes He uncovers in us along the way.

If you are walking through a valley of your own, I know how overwhelming it can feel. Now’s the time to run to your Shepherd so that He can heal and hold you, but also so that He can open your eyes to the experiences—the blessings and changes—of following Him.

©Heather Potts 2018

Security

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,” ignore what the world worships ~ Psalm 40:4 MSG

People do the craziest things in their cars: shave, brush their teeth, even change clothes. Everyone does it, we climb inside a routine that makes us feel secure and invisible to others, when in reality, we are very exposed.

From July 2015 until last month, Brad was looking for work, the kind with set hours and set pay. Last October, Brad thought he’d found it. But that wasn’t God’s end-game and He closed the door. Though hurt and frustrated, Brad kept applying for the job we were certain we wanted: the safe kind, with set pay. After several more interviews and just as many closed doors, we were frustrated and confused. We begged God to lead us. In that time, He never failed to care for us, but it wasn’t how we thought it was supposed to look.

God did open one door. Two of Brad’s friends encouraged him to start his own business, which he did, and began doing small projects. At the beginning of this year, one of Brad’s friends submitted a bid for a project, an undertaking which was far beyond what he could manage on his own. He told Brad that if won the bid he would need to hire Brad to coordinate it for him. Was this really the direction God was sending us? Through a series of more closed doors with this being the only open door, God confirmed this was the direction He was leading us.

I recently told a friend that we never would have gone this route had the events of last year never occurred. It doesn’t offer any security; it doesn’t come with guaranteed work or guaranteed pay… But nothing is truly secure unless directed by and held in the hands of God. If you’re walking a path and the way seems unsure, submit yourself fully into God’s hands, for His is the only way that is truly secure.

©Heather Potts 2016