Shepherd's voice from the pasture…

We claim that we have a Father in heaven and He takes care of us each and every moments in our life. However, some times, especially when we have to go through trials and tribulations, we may feel that we are alone and abandoned by the Lord. Even King David who had always experienced the comforting presence of the omni-present God fell into the trap of doubting God.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13 : 1).

Alex Haley, the author of  the best seller, Roots, had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was the picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. Once one of his friends asked him-

“Why is this strange picture on the wall?”

Alex Haley answered-

“Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words, and think that they are wonderful and to begin to think proud of myself, I look at the picture of the turtle on top of the fence post. That picture reminds me that the turtle didn’t get there on his own. It had help”.

Even when sitting on the golden throne of Israel, wearing the golden crown on his head, the symbolic expression of victory and holding the golden sceptre, the emblem of royal authority, King David says,

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103 : 2)

If we have to give thanks to the Lord, we should have the willingness to spend a few moments to look back and remember the miraculous ways the Lord had led us in the past. Just ask ourselves-

“Where I have started in my life and where I have reached in my life?”

None of us can answer this question without tearful eyes, for we know from the depth of our heart that the blessings we are enjoying in our life is only by His grace and we don’t deserve it.

Secondly, if we have to remember the heavenly blessings we enjoy each and every day, we have to spare a few moments in the midst of our hectic schedules. As long as time is much more precious than money, only a person with a grateful heart would be willing to spare those few moments.

When somebody does something good in our life, a cultured person living in a sophisticated society would say at least a ‘thank you’.  Later, he may forget about the incident.  But if a person risks his life to save a stranger or his enemy from some kind of danger or disaster, walking away by just uttering casually a ‘thank you’ and forgetting about it is the height of ungratefulness.

Unfortunately, some times we easily forget the goodness of the Lord.  Some of the believers are selfish to such an extend that their attitude breaks the heart of the Lord. They are confined to the small circle of their families.  The only thoughts in their life is focused on their prosperity and their bright future. Their only concentration is on how to solve their problems and how they can become rich instantly. They live as if they are the only one existing on the surface of this planet. Such believers regularly forget the blessings of the Lord and remember Him only when they are in need. They kneel down to pray only when there is an emergency in their life. Whenever they have to undergo bitter experiences in their spiritual journey, they get upset and irritated and some times go to the extreme extend of denying the Lord like Peter.

For them, God is a remote-controlled robot, existing only to bless them, protect them from all their dangers and heal them when they are sick.

If there is anybody who consider God as a supreme being existing only to shower worldly blessings on him/her? If so, he or she has formulated a wrong theory or philosophy that doesn’t match at all with the truths recorded in the word of God. Instead of  their futile efforts to control God, he or she should submit to the will of  God.

Whether we are prospering or undergoing agonies in our lives, realize the fact that we are not alone in our spiritual journey. Our loving Lord is always with us. Even when walking through the fierce shadows of death, King David says with a grateful heart-

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23 : 4).

When we are in trials, be grateful to the Lord for not leaving us alone. Be grateful to him for safeguarding us and leading us even through the valley of the shadow of death. When our long-cherished dreams are fulfilled, when we feel that we have reached the top of the world while many are undergoing struggle for existence, remember with a grateful heart that we didn’t reach there on our own. The one who promised, “I would never leave thee nor forsake thee”, was holding our hands till we reached our destination.