Wounded Sheep..Strong Sheep

My dear friend Heather shared this with me a number of years ago. It is a picture that speaks to my heart and so I wanted to share it again as it may be for someone reading.

As Heather was praying she saw a picture of a large flock of sheep who were all moving in one direction and from her perspective on their way into new pastures.

At the front she could see some really strong and healthy sheep who were forging ahead with the Shepherd. They were keeping close and following close to Him.

However, at the back of the flock there were some sheep lagging well behind. The stragglers who were clearly struggling to keep up.

These sheep were wounded in some way. Some were limping and injured so couldn’t move as fast. Others were partly blinded or had poor vision and couldn’t see clearly. They kept bumping into things and were being hindered.

Some of the sheep couldn’t hear clearly what the Shepherd at the front was saying. They were struggling to hear and kept asking the others “What’s He saying”

These sheep at the back felt like losing heart and giving up. They couldn’t keep up with the other sheep. They were struggling and falling further behind. They were discouraged. They didn’t feel like they belonged.

However, the Shepherd was looking back and He noticed those sheep. He left the other sheep and went right to the back of the flock to them.

He starts calling each of those sheep by name because He knows them by name. He tells each one that He knows and understands their struggles.

The Shepherd tells each one that He will walk with them. He will heal them and He will take them into the new pasture.

There is great comfort and encouragement in this picture as Jesus who is our great and chief Shepherd seeks out those sheep who are lost and wounded. However, there is also I believe a gentle warning to those who are forging ahead at the front.

There is a danger that those sheep who are strong in faith and doctrine and pressing ahead will not remember and help those in the flock who are weak and struggling.

Those who perhaps can’t move as quickly and are limping and carrying wounds. They may need help and support to be healed from past emotional wounds and abuse.

Those not seeing or hearing clearly could be affected by false teaching or doctrine or sin. We can be disciples who disciple others in sound doctrine.

Let us not forget that the Lord has given gifts of ministry and service within the church that we may help each other grow and mature in faith.

Is the Lord calling you by name to walk alongside and help one of His wounded sheep with Him today?

Are you a wounded sheep who is suffering?

Then be encouraged today because Jesus the great Shepherd has seen you, will come to you right where you are and knows exactly what you need to heal and restore you.

Don’t give up hope but look up. Your Shepherd is near.

Thank you Lord that you found me when I was lost, weak and hurting.

Now let me also be a shepherd to those you bring into the fold. Amen.

“For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

Ezekiel 34 11-16