Encouragement

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A LAMB's PSALM

I’ve known many masters. My search for purpose, fulfillment, happiness led through succulent landscapes. Each, at the beginning, looked bountiful, rich, capable of filling my wants. Yet their abundance left me famished, the terrain left me scarred by unseen thorns and briars. Desire my master, I found no rest, only weariness. Breaking the bonds of one master, I soon found myself ensnared by another. And all the while sounds I didn’t understand swirled around my head. Inescapable, reverberating echoes, pitiful searching cries.

Then I felt Your touch, gentle, seeking my woundedness, binding it with the balm of Yourself. Trembling within Your embrace, within such unexpected tenderness, still it was the soothing warmth of Your voice that finally stilled my fearful heart. Touch and I were not strangers, but always before, each master’s touch brought pain.

But Your touch lingered, safely, gently, and the tender wooing of Your voice at last drew my face towards Yours. Daring to look into Your eyes, a knowing enveloped me. A knowing to which I’d remained a stranger, until this moment. Reflected in Your eyes, I saw myself truly for the first time. A precious sheep, mirrored perfectly in the eyes of my Shepherd’s love. And the sounds that had swirled around my head, that invaded my heart for so long, finally found meaning. They were the bleating cry of this lost lamb having wandered from the Shepherd’s care.

A lamb, submitting to masters, I’d lost the understanding of who I am, of what I need. But You, Lord, the only true lover of my soul, are my Shepherd. My Good Shepherd, Whose heart knows my inward being, my every need. Remaining within Your care I will bear no want, for You have chosen to meet each need with Yourself, pouring Yourself out selflessly, on my behalf.

Barren wastelands, empty mirages of abundance holding only hunger and thirst lie behind me. For Your steps lead me to pasturelands, green and lush and satisfying, where together we lie down, and at last I know rest. My thirst finally knows what it means to be fully quenched in the stillness of sweet living waters, that quiet place of safety where I can drink my fill.

And when You know I am ready, ready to step forward, rested and sustained by Your presence, You will continue to lead me. Your love will never be lifted from me, even when it is Your rod nudging me back onto Your paths, paths paved in righteousness. For within the loving crook of Your Shepherd’s staff, peace, security will remain my comfort. Even when those valleys stretch before me, darkened by the shadow of death where fear will try to reign, I will know peace. Your peace. The peace You give that reminds this little lamb that what would appear death … is really life.

For You, Lord, are with me, ever with Your lamb, which, alone, would tremble before fear’s voice when it’s shadow would try to descend upon me. But Your faithful presence quells all fear, and I know only the comfort of Your love, of Your embrace.

Overflowing with Your fullness, cleansed with Your own hand, all the days of my life I will know Your goodness, every moment I breath will be cradled in Your mercy.

How I came to belong to such a Shepherd remains heaven’s mystery. But You called my name, You kept calling, You sought me out, walking the stony, briar-strewn path I traveled, marking it with Your own scarlet flow until, at last, I turned and found myself wrapped securely within Your embrace. Bathed with Your tears, this little lamb began to know Love’s touch. Began to know what it was to be at home … forever.

Now I come to know, Dear Shepherd, a precious sweetness, a sweetness encompassing me about, born of Love. Whether frolicking in green pastures, resting beside quiet streams, traveling boldly through death’s Shadowlands, wherever, Lord, You lead, this little lamb will remain with You, will dwell within Your heart, will call Your Presence home.


© DeAnna Brooks
2 November 2005

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