Boldly Crossing Streams
My husband has been working on a project that involves understanding the behavior of shepherds and their flocks. As he’s done so, we’ve discovered some interesting facts about the love and responsibilities a shepherd has in leading sheep—most notably when his flock has to cross a stream of water.
The sheep closest to the shepherd usually plunge boldly into the water at a place the shepherd chooses and are soon safely across. Other sheep can enter the stream with apprehension and trepidation because they are farther behind their shepherd and enter the water downstream. They find the bed of the stream deeper and have to push harder against the current. They become a bit bewildered but eventually scramble ashore.
Smaller lambs refuse to go into the stream at all and are driven into the water by the dogs. The lambs bleat pitifully as they leap and buck from being pulled under the water by the current. Despite their fear, most manage to struggle across. The shepherd intently watches all his sheep, however, and if even one small lamb is swept away, he quickly jumps into the stream and rescues it, carrying it against his chest to shore.
When the entire flock arrives safely on the other side of the stream, the lambs dance about with joy. They gather around their shepherd as close as possible, as if they are expressing their thankfulness to him.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isa. 43:2 NIV). The Lord is our Shepherd, and he loves us well.
In some seasons we, like sheep, are strong, boldly crossing streams close to our Shepherd. The current that pushes against us doesn’t affect our focus on him or reaching the shoreline. But sometimes we are in a season of hesitation and apprehension. We’ve misstepped and found ourselves drenched and clambering out of the water. Others of us go through a season like little lambs, forced into the stream by dogs. We feel as though we’re fighting for our lives as we wait for the Shepherd to pull us from the waters that threaten to overtake us.
The past year has been a season of boldly crossing streams for our family. We’ve made the transition to full-time missionary work here in the United States. Fundraising has been an issue, though, and we have been working without any income for eleven months. Zero. Trust me, I know this doesn’t even seem possible. It’s not easy to summarize a year of living in the United States with zero income, and there’s no simple answer for why we have continued to live this way, without any assistance from even a governmental agency, other than this is what the Lord has called us to do.
Our family began this journey as experienced, strong sheep. We were sure of our footing. There have been times of apprehension when we found ourselves down the shore a ways. Sometimes we have experienced doubt and have been like little lambs threatened to be overwhelmed by our circumstances. We’ve suffered loss, been uncomfortable, been humbled, and been in need. But our one constant has been our Shepherd. He watches over us intently, and we’ve trusted him for our every financial need. Some are in awe of the faith we’ve practiced while others argue we have trusted foolishly. But we’ve endured, and we’ve remained steadfast in walking the path the Lord has called us to. We’ve exercised great faith.
I won’t lie—it’s been hard and wearisome. But I have learned that hard things contain lessons only understood when we persevere through them. They teach us to abide in Christ with our hearts, not only with our mouths.
I don’t know when this part of our journey will end and we will finally have a consistent income. I don’t know exactly why we have to go through these excruciating circumstances. [Tweet “I know I can trust my Shepherd to take me safely to shore.”]
I don’t know why you have to endure the trials you’re living through. I don’t know why you have to suffer, hurt, or grieve. But I do know the Lord does not rejoice in your pain; he suffers, hurts, and grieves with you. I do know we can trust that the place in the stream he leads us to so we can cross over is best, and that he will never leave us. I do know that abiding is real and that we are his beloved sheep. I do know he will catch us up into his arms at the exact time we need him. I do know he is always with us when we pass through the troubled waters.
That’s enough to keep me boldly crossing streams and dancing in joy with my Shepherd.
Brianna George is a speaker, teacher, and missionary as well as a part-time writer and full-time encourager. She lives in central Tennessee with her husband of twelve years, two spicy little boys, and Bosa the boxer. More of her writing can be found at unveiledandrevealed.com.
