Bill Davis is an encouraging friend.

Regular readers of this site will remember Bill from an earlier guest appearance. He is one of the encouraging voices God has placed in my life. I’m thankful for his words of wisdom. I know you’ll be blessed by his thoughts on the sheep and their Good Shepherd.

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When I travel, I am often conflicted about taking pictures. Sometimes I enjoy the scenery so much; I forget to take pictures. Sometimes, I get so caught up in taking pictures that I don’t really experience where I’ve been until I sit down and look at the pictures. Over the years, I have sometimes captured something that comes to mean much more to me after I study it later.

I took this picture several years ago as we traveled from Bagram Air Base to Kabul, Afghanistan. The shepherds here are Kuchi. They are Afghan Pashtu nomads and bring their sheep and goats to this part of Afghanistan in the spring to graze this area during the short season when the grass is green.

The picture above is a striking picture of a couple of shepherds, watching their flock on a mild spring day, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

In fact, the shepherd on the right is standing on the edge of a cliff between his flock and certain death or serious injury. 

There are striking similarities between what Christians have and what these sheep have in their good shepherd.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:11, 14).

As Christians, we can get ourselves into difficult situations and have to ask for help in getting ourselves out of a predicament. However, if we listen to our Shepherd’s voice, he will lead us to good provisions and certain blessings. If we trust Christ completely and know that wherever He leads us, He is always looking out for us in the right way.

Just like the shepherd who led his sheep up a rocky way, Christ will sometimes lead us through some troublesome times, trials, and dark passageways. We may see no danger, or other times, we may be fearful. In either case, we must trust Him because He is preparing us, leading us to something he has awaiting us.

At first glance, I didn’t fully appreciate what I was seeing. In fact, I didn’t really see anything but some sheep, goats, and a shepherd. But isn’t that really the point? We often look right through what God is showing us. We miss the dangers. We miss opportunities. We miss the lesson that he has for us.

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.