Our Shepherd Cares
Our Shepherd Cares
1. He Cares About our Pain (Us)
2. He Cares about our Prayers (Cries)
3. He Cares about his Plans for us (He never forgets us)
1 Peter 5:7 says to throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Jesus cared deeply demonstrating his compassion in tangible ways: giving sight to the blind, touching the leper, healing the sick.
No one or anything else even comes close to our Lords care.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Jesus Compassionately Cares for His People
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE KNOW THAT JESUS CAN EMPATHIZE AND TRULY UNDERSTAND OUR PAINS AND TRIALS BECAUSE OF HIS VERY OWN EARTHLY LIFE IN WHICH HE WALKED WITH US AND SUFFERED FOR US!
Scriptures testify to His care of even the smallest details, we know that He indeed does care infinitely for our needs and sorrows.
Matthew 10:29-31)
He has even numbered the hairs of our head!
In Hebrew 4:15-16, we are told, “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
In Isaiah 40:31, we are told, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
We know that Jesus cares for us because He cared enough to give His life for us.
HE CARED ENOUGH TO GIVE US EVERYTHING HE HAS. No one else has ever paid a greater price. He died on the cross to show us that He cared for us.
God’s Word is packed full of promises we can cling to no matter what our needs or circumstances may be.
IT IS EASY TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY WHO SAYS THERE WILL NEVER BE A MOMENT WHEN I DO NOT FEEL PAIN. BUT LISTENING TO THE ENEMY ALWAYS LEADS TO DESPAIR AND LEAVES US FEARFUL FOR THE FUTURE.
When we need encouragement, whether we’re facing a financial, medical, or emotional trial, we can know this for certain: God promises to provide for His people. God’s Word is packed full of promises we can cling to no matter what our needs or circumstances may be.
Nine Ways we are Cared for.
1. He takes care of our physical needs.
God promises to provide what we need (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:31-32). He created the universe and gives food to every living thing — including you and me. The same God who provides food for the animals will not allow us to go without (Psalm 145:15-16, Luke 12:24-26).
Not only does the Bible promise this, we see examples in Scripture as well. When Jesus was preaching, and the crowd of people had not eaten, He multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish and fed more than 5,000 people (Mark 6:1-14). When Adam and Eve sinned and their eyes were open to their nakedness, God provided clothes for them (Genesis 9:3). Even when we mess up, God still provides.
2. He gives us rest.
God promises to give His people rest (Matthew 11:29-30, Psalm 23:2).
Rest comes from giving up control of our lives and following Jesus wherever His path may lead. Think about going on a long car trip. How different is the experience when you are the passenger instead of the driver? The passenger experiences rest the driver does not.
3. He provides direction.
God guides and directs our steps, so we can fulfill His great purpose for us (Proverbs 20:24).
Many times, we see His direction most clearly in hindsight. We think we know the best way to do something and lament every bump along the way. But when we look back, we realize God has positioned us through those bumps to experience something far greater than we could have imagined (Ephesians 2:10).
4. He gives us grace.
God gives us the grace we need to get through any situation (2 Corinthians 9:8). God’s grace, his undeserved favor, is what allows us to forgive someone who wrongs us, to put our spouses first, to serve our families, to forgive ourselves, or to simply have enough strength to get through the day.
5. He shows us how to escape temptation.
God always provides a way out when we face temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Just as Jesus combated Satan’s temptation in the desert, God promises to provide us with a way to defeat any temptation that comes our way.
God knows we will face temptation and gives us the resources we need to overcome those trials, including His Word and His Spirit. When we are prepared, God promises we will always be able to escape the temptations the devil puts in our path.
6. He helps us when we’re hurting.
God promises to help us when we’re hurting (Psalm 34:17-20). When life is hard, when the pain feels too much to bear, we don’t need to hide from God. We can run to God. He is our refuge and our strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
7. He saves us.
God provides a way for us to be in a relationship with Him (John 14:6). Once Adam and Eve sinned, we were forever separated from God. However, sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sin (John 3:16). Jesus paid the debt we could never work off.
When we believe in Jesus, we’re able to experience a personal relationship with God — we are no longer separated due to our sin! (Romans 10:9)
8. He gives us peace.
God provides us with the ability to have peace in any situation (Philippians 4:7, Romans 5:1). He guards our hearts and minds and lead us into paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).
He gives us confidence when we’re uncertain and satisfies our longing souls (Philippians 1:6, Psalm 107:9).
9. He points us to the truth.
In this day and age, it feels as if you cannot trust anyone. Lies and lies of omission are part of everyday life. But God gives us a way to know the truth. He gave us His Word. The Bible is where we turn to know what’s true and what’s not, what’s of God and what’s not (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105).
God’s promises to provide encouragement to meet our every need. No matter what trial or test comes our way, we can know that God has already provided for us both spiritually and physically. We can rest assured that when we walk through tough times, God is walking with us and providing for us all along the way.
Remember He Calls us Friends!
We can call upon Him for:
Strength
Power over Temptation
Comfort
Healing
Peace
Mercy
Grace
Forgiveness
Hope
Counsel
Direction
Courage
