The Good Shepherd

Thankful for a fulfiling day at a training course at work. :) It's been hard work during the 5 days, but somehow it is quite satisfying to learn and link different concepts/theories to guide my work in developing my supervisees. Looking forward to put these into practice and receiving supervision of my supervision too. There's so much to learn! Gotta keep holding on.

Things are getting busier and more intense at work in terms of the number and type of cases too. Stress has really become a normal process at work. I still feel anxious sometimes, whenever work/cases pile up, but there is this part of me that has developed to be resigned to the circumstances because they are not surprising. The needs are always plentiful and the workers are few.

In any case, I'm thankful for supportive people around me, and also to God who promises to be my Good Shepherd no matter what circumstances may be.

It's interesting as I was reading Psalm 23 today that it talks about walking through the valley of shadow of death and God's rod and staff's comfort and protection. What dawned upon me is that the Shepherd (God) in that psalm walks through with valleys with His sheep, that is to say, that God sometimes chooses or leads us into difficult situations but promises to be with us through it all. His presence being our comfort.

Having this understanding challenges who I understand God to be. It's easy to pray for God to alleviate our rough circumstances, and certainly some parts of scripture does describe that. But what if scripture also does present circumstances where God doesn't save us out of those circumstances but chooses to walk with us through them instead?

His promises of His peace, presence and comfort are certain because Jesus the Good Shepherd has already laid down his life for us.