HE RESTORES MY SOUL

Only those who are intimately acquainted with sheep and their habits understand the significance of a "cast" sheep or a "cast down" sheep. A cast sheep is a pretty pitiful sight. It lies on its back with its feet in the air flailing, struggling to get up but completely unable to. It may bleat for help but will lie down there helpless and frustrated. As it lies there struggling, gases begin to fill its abdomen and when that expands, it will cut off blood circulation to the extremities. If its owner does not arrive on the scene soon to set it on its feet, that sheep will die. Quickly. Casting can happen to the strongest, largest and healthiest of sheep.

The Bible makes many references to us being just like sheep. Imagine how we look as "cast down sheep" when life comes at us fast and furious. When we have been knocked down to the floor, on our backs, by the breakup or the infidelity. When our hands and feet are flailing, struggling to get back up, stay up or keep our heads above water when the job suddenly lays us off. When we're crying out for help to others and in prayer, (when we have enough faith to) when our children choose a path that disappoints us. And when we are completely unable to do anything about the situation or our state of being "cast down". We will be overcome, overwhelmed and overpowered as the situation cuts off spiritual circulation. And it happens to all of us, whether we've been walking with the Lord two months or twenty years. If God doesn't come through soon, we will quite literally experience a death.

The Psalmist declares in Psalms 23:3 "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (KJV). But what does that really mean? When a shepherd finds a cast sheep, the first impulse is to pick it up. He tenderly rolls the sheep over on its side. This begins to relieve the gases that have built up in the abdomen. If it had been down for long, the shepherd would lift it on to its feet. Then straddling the sheep, he would rub the legs to restore circulation. All the while the shepherd is talking gently to the sheep, reassuring it with his voice. And little by little that sheep would regain its balance and start walking steadily and surely as the shepherd sets it on a path. The shepherd is never angry, disgusted or fed up with the sheep. In fact, he is relieved to have found his sheep and was able to RESTORE IT!

What an awesome and amazing picture of what our heavenly Father does for us! When He locates us in our hardships and trials, figuratively on our backs, our faith legs flailing, anxiety about to claim us, coming close to losing our minds from what is happening, He RESTORES our souls! He lifts us up out of the muck and mire of depression. He tenderly rolls us on our side so we can see life from a different perspective. This begins to alleviate the buildup of fear and doubt that has accumulated. He sets us on our feet, letting us know we can and will rise above the situation. He massages our hearts allowing the life-giving blood of Jesus to flow through us again. He gently whispers His love to us, reassuring us. And He sets us back on a good and right path so that His name may be glorified! Our good Shepherd is in the restoration business! Let that sink in!

~Dania Roberts