Sheep need sheep.
They’re designed as a herd animal. Isolation literally causes them to panic and eventually shut down.
Maybe I’ve been spending a little too much time with sheep, but there is a ton of information we can learn about ourselves and our walk with the Lord by observing sheep.
Sheep are a prey animal and as such are wired to be quite fearful. It’s self-preservation.
It can also make it downright challenging to get them to come out of their comfort zone.
Is it any wonder in scripture we are so often referred to as sheep?
Know that the Lord, He is God! It is he who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (ESV)
We love our comfort zone. We want to be right in the middle of our own “flock” where it feels safe and people already know and love us.
I was recently invited to a Writer’s Retreat only a couple of hours away from where I live. There wasn’t going to be a soul there who I’d met in person yet.
It would have been easy for me to go and keep myself isolated. I have close friends at home, my family and my church. This could just be a quiet, solitary weekend away to write, right?
God had other plans.
Not only were there amazing women of God there but they pulled me right in. We jumped right out of that comfort zone and headed for the deep water.
There was no chance to feel panic or shut down due to fear. God was showing me how quickly He can orchestrate deep bonds between fellow believers.
It might not feel safe outside the tight knit group of those we already know but if God is calling you to go, He will go before you. When we follow God out of our comfort zone and invest in relationships we discover another level of fellowship.
Following Jesus into the deep is where our faith becomes stronger.
Be brave. Step out into the deep end of relationships.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV)
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I love to study sheep and the comparison to us humans. Thank you for the reminder that if God is calling you He will go before you and prepare the way. This really encouraged me!
Thank you Amanda. I'm glad it encouraged you. Blessings to you!
Laura,
Visiting you from Holley's. I was blessed by your rich description of sheep, loved how you explained they are herd animals and 'shut down' in isolation. Ditto! How hard it is to step out…of the herd, even into green pastures. Thanks for the vivid imagery! Blessings!
Thanks Sandra. Blessings to you as well.
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I love sheep! I mean how can we not love them? They teach us so many spiritual nuggets about our need for The Shepherd! My pastor did a sermon series on psalm 23 years ago. I have never forgotten what I gleaned from that teaching. Thanks for your insight.