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“His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
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Sheep are defenseless creatures.
They have no claws, no paws; neither venom, nor fangs. If attacked, they have no way of defending themselves.
When left alone, they become nature’s next snack.
Sheep aren’t smart animals, but they know their strength does not lie in themselves; it’s determined by their closeness to the shepherd.
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The same is true for us.
How many times have we felt, “troubled or abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd?” Alone, left to our own devise.
Maybe we’re going through a divorce; feeling isolated because of COVID; or worried about the future.
At times our mind can spin us into a hole so deep it feels like there’s no way out.
But there is.
It can be a hard lesson to learn, but ultimately our strength does not reside in ourselves; it’s determined by how close we are to Jesus.