Raising Your Grandchildren Sample

 Shepherd-Driven Soul Care

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. . . . He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1, 3

Not only has Sherry and her husband adopted one of their grandchildren, but Sherry works with over a hundred other grandmothers to help them through their challenges of parenting their own grandchildren. One thing Sherry has learned in all of this is that “One of the very last things a mother or grandmother may do is take care of herself. Most never think about how important that is.”

One of the reasons this is such a common problem is because taking care of yourself may seem selfish and self-centered. After all, God gave you these children to care for, and you take that role very seriously. While an admirable commitment, neglecting to care for yourself can hinder your ability to care for those who need your loving care.

It comes down to this: You cannot give what you do not have, and what you need to have only God can give. There’s nothing selfish about taking care of your own soul when you grasp what soul-care is really all about. Unfortunately, modern psychology’s “self-improvement” and “self-empowerment” focus has led many down a path that doesn’t do the job.

That’s because we were designed to find our rest in God alone. I like how Joanna Mikhail says it: “We were created to rest in God. When I understood this, I realized that biblical ‘self-care’ isn’t self-care at all, it is surrender to divine care.” She’s right. Only when we surrender ourselves to the truth about who we are and who God is will we find rest. 

Here are three of those critical truths taken from Psalm 23. Known as the Shepherd’s Psalm, it was written by a man who was both a king and a skilled shepherd.

1. The Lord is your shepherd (v.1). Not just any shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd who satisfies our wants. I love the way one four-year-old said it: “The Lord is my Shepherd; what else could I want?” He’s not just the shepherd of a large flock. He is your shepherd. He knows you by name. You are so cherished by Him that He has committed himself to your well-being. What else could you want?

2. The Shepherd’s care is both nourishing and restorative (vv.2-3). He leads you to green pastures and still waters, inviting you to rest and drink. The invitation is real, but you must decide if you will accept it. Meditate on these verses to understand all He has prepared to restore your soul. 

3. He is your protector (v. 4). No matter what your circumstances may be, He is always there… even in the valley of the shadow of death. He is not a shepherd who flees at the first sign of real trouble. He stays and leads you through it.

The invitation is to come… and He will give you rest for your soul.