"Jesus," I asked, "can you show me where you are in this situation?"
I believed in Jesus since I was a little girl. I had faith, but I also had a tendency to wander away from him. At 44 years old, I found myself in a desperate place. There was this overwhelming darkness, an evil that was threatening the safety and security of my home, my family, and especially my son. My son was in trouble and I was feeling totally helpless with no answers of my own. That was when I came seeking my sister's help through prayer ministry. Not for myself but on behalf of my son, whom I loved dearly.
During one of our very first prayer sessions, she directed me to ask Jesus to show me where he was during this time. So I did. "Jesus," I asked, "can you show me where you are in this situation?"
Immediately, in my mind, I saw a scene play out. It was night, it was pitch black, and a cold storm was raging with wind and rain. Then lightning flashed across the sky, and I could see that I was looking over the edge of a cliff. On a small ledge just below, was a tiny lamb. The lamb was wet, cold, and scared. It was curled up tight against the side of the cliff. I could barely hear it over the sound of the rain, wind, and thunder but I saw it was bleating out in fear. The darkness below it seemed to be rising up and was threatening to snatch up the weakened lamb. I looked up feeling frantic at what I was seeing. That's when I noticed him. That's when I saw the Good Shepherd. He was dressed in a white wool robe with the hood over his head. He had knelt at the edge of the cliff and was extending his shepherd's staff down below. The hook of his staff was just about to scoop up that little scared lamb when I opened my eyes.
In tears, I described out loud the scene Jesus had shown me. I felt a wave of relief at the assurance that Jesus himself was the Good Shepard. He had my son. He was right there with him, rescuing him.
Then my sister gently encouraged, "Now ask Jesus, who that little lamb is?" I thought to myself, but why? I already know who that little lamb is. It is my son, of course, and Jesus is showing me that he has him. However, I thought, maybe it's good that actually I hear Jesus say it is my son. Okay, it will be double reassurance. I agreed and asked him, "Jesus, who is that little lamb?" His answer was immediate and very clear.
" It's you." He said. " The lamb is you"
As that realization washed over me, He continued, " I have always had your son. Even now I hold him in my righteous right hand. Its you that have wandered off. Its you I have come looking for. "
After that moment, a journey began of trusting Jesus had my son and obeying his call to seek him for myself. Every time I wanted to take on worry, to fear for my son, or try to " fix" things for him, Jesus would remind me. "I told you I have him already. Now what about you? I want you." As I gave my Lord Jesus Christ more and more of me, I began to witness the freedom from darkness not only me but for my family as well.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
John 10:11
R.