The Shepherd knows you. No one can compare to God in taking care of His flock. The Shepherd knows when you are weak and weary. He will hold your hand and lead you beside quiet waters. When you get exhausted from the fights you face in your spiritual walk, the Shepherd will ensure that you are refreshed. As you get bruised because of the nature of the terrain you have to walk, He will sooth you. He will carry you. He will nourish you. He will comfort you. Should you find it hard to walk, press on, or fight, the Shepherd will carry you. God loves you. God is concerned with what befalls you.
The Shepherd understands you very well. Suffering is real. Life is characterized by pain and troubling situations. Nights can be long and lonely. It is true that your faith can be threatened and your strength can grow weak and weary on occasions. The Shepherd understands and cares deeply for you in those moments. God will stand with you. He will help you. Look at the Shepherd’s promise in 1 Peter 5:10: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
The Shepherd knows how much you can handle. Every Christian is molded in God’s crucible. This involves purifying, chiseling, and pruning. God does this with love and tender care as He shapes and conforms while still holding your best interest at heart. Your shaping depends on what kind of a vessel you are before God. Sometimes this calls for an increase in the temperature. Other times it demands that you stay on God’s molding wheel a little longer. The Shepherd knows how much you can handle. He will not keep you on the wheel longer than necessary. He will not hurt you either. The Shepherd is right there with you. He will refresh, soothe, and comfort you even as you go through the painful process of being shaped by His mighty hand for His purposes.
The Shepherd is touched by what affects you. While facing tough times, it is often hard to see the end. It is not easy to comprehend the outcome either. As you squirm in the heat of battle, your heart may wonder, “how long… why Lord.” In those dark moments of life, you doubt your own strength and your ability to make it. God has good news for you. Take courage, fear not! God understands your circumstances. He will not leave you alone in your times of great need. God’s grace is sufficient for you. His strength is made manifest in your weaknesses. You will not go under, instead, you will emerge a victor in God. God will give you the ability to go through it. Yes, the Shepherd is touched by the feelings of your infirmities, and He will help you.