Already Winning: You Have a Shepherd

Singleness is a unique season, isn’t it? It can be fun, full and life-giving, but we can be honest and say it can also feel lonely and discouraging.

No matter how you are feeling or what you are facing as a single today, I have an essential reminder for you:

You have a shepherd.

I realise likening yourself to a sheep is not the most flattering comparison. When David penned these words thousands of years ago, he crafted an image overflowing with meaning that is lost on most of us today (unless you happen to be a shepherd).

David intimately knew the care and attention a shepherd devotes to his sheep. The declaration “The Lord is my Shepherd” was heartfelt worship to God for His robust and faithful care.

Interestingly, David isn’t the only one to refer to the Lord as a shepherd – it is recurrent throughout the Bible. Jesus references Himself in the same way in John 10, and He dives even deeper into what that means. Look at the nuggets contained in this passage alone. Jesus describes that if you are His follower (His sheep), He…

• Calls you by name and leads you (v 3)
• Goes before you (v 4)
• Comes to give you life and life more abundantly (10)
• Lays down His life for you (v 11 & 15)
• Knows you and makes Himself known to you (v 14)

How do these words hit you?

What happens if you make Jesus’ description of Himself as your Shepherd specific to your current season?

• Jesus calls me by name and leads me in my singleness.
• Jesus goes before me in my singleness.
• Jesus comes to give me life and life more abundantly in my singleness.
• Jesus lays down His life for me in my singleness.
• Jesus knows me and makes Himself known to me in my singleness.

Which one stands out the most to you right now? Why?

Take some time today to meditate on these attributes of Christ. You may find it encouraging to explore other scriptures that reference Jesus as Shepherd (there are quite a few!). Allow the Word of God to fill your heart with His care for you.