Ever feel that life is a jungle and you are lost and alone in it? For many, life is a jungle! Not a jungle of trees and beasts. No, our jungles are comprised of different problems; failing health, broken hearts, and empty wallets
We deal with hospital walls and divorce courts. The noises we hear are not the screeching of birds or the roaring of lions, but the complaints of neighbors and the demands of bosses. Oh yes, our predators are our creditors, and the brush that surrounds us is the rush that exhausts us. It’s a jungle out there.
For many, hope is in short supply. We have a sense of hopelessness, fear and a lack of security or direction. Not a very pretty picture, is it?
What are we to do? Who or what do we turn to? What would it take to restore our hope? What would we need to reenergize our journey?
Consider the following:
We need a person. Not just any person. We don’t need someone who is equally confused. We do need someone who knows the way out, who can give us a new vision, who can lift our spirits. We do need someone who will look us in the face and say, “This isn’t the end. Don’t give up. There is a better place than this. And I’ll lead you there.”
And, most importantly, we need direction. If we have only a person but no renewed vision, all we have is company. If he has a vision but no direction, we have a dreamer for company. But if we have a person with direction—who can take us from this place to the right place—ah, then we have one who can restore our hope.
Or, as David said: “He restores my soul.”
Our Shepherd specializes in restoring hope to the soul. Whatever our circumstances everything changes when our rescuer appears.
Our loneliness diminishes, because we now have fellowship.
Our despair decreases, because we now have vision.
Our confusion begins to lift, because we now have direction.
Here is the interesting part, we are still in the jungle. The trees still eclipse the sky, and the thorns still cut the skin. Animals lurk and rodents scurry. The jungle is still a jungle. It hasn’t changed, but we have. We have changed because we now have hope. And we have hope because we have met someone who can lead us out. Our Shepherd knows our circumstances all too well. So he has come to guide you out.
He has come to restore our soul. He is the perfect one to do so.
He (our Shepherd) has the right vision. He reminds us that “you are like foreigners and strangers in this world” (1 Pet. 2:11). He tells to: “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2(NIV)
David said it this way, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber.… The Lord watches over you … the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (Ps. 121:1–7 niv).
The Lord, our rescuer, has the right vision. He also has the right direction. He declared, “I am the way” (John 14:6).
Does He remove the jungle? No, the vegetation is still thick.
Does He purge the predators? No, danger still lurks.
Jesus doesn’t give hope by changing the jungle; He restores our hope by giving us himself. And He has promised to stay until the very end. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20 niv).
We need that reminder. We all need that reminder. For all of us need hope.
You may not need your hope restored today, but you may tomorrow. And you need to know to whom to turn. Perhaps you do need hope today. You know you were not made for this place. You know you are not equipped. You want someone to lead you out.
If so, call out for your Shepherd. He knows your voice.. He’s just waiting for your request.
So remember,
When our soul grows sorrowful He revives it;
When it is sinful He sanctifies it;
When it is weak He strengthens it.
“He” does it. No one else can do it.
Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest? Pray to him, then, for the blessing—“Restore me, thou Shepherd of my soul!”
Have a Blessed Day
[Inspired by my study of the book "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado]
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