Trusting in Our Shepherd’s Endless Mercy: Part 2

Walking with Our Shepherd

Author Erwin Lutzer once wrote that: “You become stronger only when you become weaker. When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires.”. We read in the holy Bible that as they walked together toward their destination that awaited them in Jerusalem, that in addition to growing into understanding who their teacher really was, the disciples’ forty-day journey to Jerusalem led them through the evil of the valley of the shadow of death. However, as their fear of what awaited them in Jerusalem grew, their trust in God’s mercy & protection also grew.

Though they were confused & afraid of the unknown future that threatened them as well as their beloved teacher, God through His mercy & Grace brought the memory of His promise of the unbreakable covenant He had made with His people to their remembrance. God’s promised covenant & the words, prayers & work of their teacher, gave them the spiritual resources, strength & courage to choose to follow God’s leading. In faith & trust in God they surrendered their fear & put their trust in God as they continued the journey forward with their beloved teacher.

In Psalm 46:1, the Psalmist says: “God is our refuge & our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the seas; though the waters roar & foam. Though the mountains tremble with its tumult. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

The Psalms are holy proclamations of the goodness of God, of His comfort & endless mercy, grace, & love for us. They are words that will sustain us through all our days, words that are worth remembering as we journey through our days making choices that will inform & shape our lives. They are words we need to share & reflect, words that will guide us home.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down pastures green. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name sake.

And I will trust in You alone & I will trust in You alone. For your endless mercy follows me. Your goodness will lead me home.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod & Your staff they comfort me.

And I will trust in You alone & I will trust in You alone. For your endless mercy follows me. Your goodness will lead me home.

You preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness & mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, & I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

And I will trust in You alone & I will trust in You alone. For your endless mercy follows me. Your goodness will lead me home. AMEN 

~Posted by Rev Kathryn Bindig, MDiv. MS; Pastoral Care Minister with assistance from Rich Muscatello; Director of Business Development & Strategy