THE FROZEN SHEEP

A few years ago, I visited a sheep farm. I saw how they were herded with the help of a sheep dog and also how they were sheared. On the tour, the shepherd took one of the sheep and “held” it. He took the sheep from behind and sat her in a position that made her remain still. He explained that by being still he could examine her or give her whatever treatment was necessary.

I find it very interesting that there is a specific position that leaves her immobilized. I can't help but think that sometimes something similar happens to us when we focus too much on certain thoughts and feelings. We "freeze."

One of these feelings is fear. Just by recalling something that scares us we begin to feel tense, and if we were faced with it, we would possibly freeze.

The other feeling is hatred. If we think of someone who has really hurt us, we may feel rejection towards that person and a desire to never see him or her again in our life.

In both cases, the first thing that we feel is a sense of warning, accompanied by anxiety.

Our good shepherd, Jesus, does not want us to go through life paralyzed, moving forward on one side, but half stuck on the other. He provides a way out:

For fear, He offers us his company and invites us to trust in Him, giving us the directive of not allowing fear to paralyze us. Read this promise carefully and make it yours. Put your name in the blank:

Don’t be afraid ________, for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Regarding hate, He invites us to forgive. So that when the name of the person who hurt us is mentioned, our stomach does not twist, and our face does not harden. We could write a whole book about thousands of ways to get rid of hate, but nothing is going to work until we forgive. It is not something to meditate on, but to obey. Put your name in the blank:

________, if you forgive those who sin against you,

your heavenly Father will forgive you.

But if you refuse to forgive others,

your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-16

Our feelings can be deceptive, which is why we need to fill our minds with what God thinks about us and what His word says.

In our times of trouble, Jesus, like the good shepherd that He is, puts us in a position where we -just like the sheep we talked about at the beginning- stay still. Then, he lovingly heals our wounds and helps us to face our fears. Isn't this wonderful?

I have struggled with fear since I was young. Although I have looked for many shortcuts, the true breakthroughs have come when I HAVE DECIDED TO BELIEVE GOD AND ACT UPON IT; trusting that His word is irrefutable and His love for me is eternal. When I move forward with that certainty, my doubts and fears dissipate, and the ugly wolf that is lurking around -hoping to take advantage of me- has no choice but to flee.

“My sheep listen to my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

No one can snatch them away from me.”

Words of Jesus in John 10:27-28

© Astrid Gale

Leave us your comment at the bottom of the page!