Under His Watchful Eye
I’ve only ever “misplaced” one of my children once. And let me tell ya – once was one time too many.
My son was two years old, and we were killing time in Target. I was rifling through clothes in the women’s department while little buddy played hide-and-seek with the clothes hanging on the lower racks. Suddenly, I realized I wasn’t hearing his giggle or seeing the clothes sway on their hangers. I called his name. No response. Fear swept over me, and I began to frantically search for my boy, widening the circle and calling his name more loudly. I asked customers and sales clerks if they’d seen my kiddo. All answered with sympathy but helplessness: “No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
About the time I decided to seek out store management, an announcement came over the PA system. “Attention, shoppers. A lost little boy named Tanner has been found, and he’s looking for his mommy. If you’re his mommy, he’s waiting to meet up with you in customer service. Thank you.”
I sprinted to the front of the store to find my teary-eyed toddler in the arms of a kind store manager who was quietly comforting him. I’m not sure which of us cried harder, but after thanking the manager and squeezing my boy tight, we both sobbed all the way to the car.
If you’ve ever had a child wander off, you know that instant when your heart drops into your stomach and your imagination kicks into overdrive, thinking the worst. This is not a guilt trip. It can happen in a flash. Those kids are quick and squirrelly – and oblivious to the danger in which they put themselves. They just don’t realize that when they wander out of our sight and beyond our earshot, they’re no longer under the umbrella of our protection.
I’d love to say that as an adult who’s been following Jesus for over 40 years, I’ve never been prone to wander, either unintentionally or purposefully. Reality is that I’ve been known to drift away on occasion, and there’s a real danger in that.
Psalm 23 lists some benefits of being under the care of the Good Shepherd. When I leave the fold, I forfeit the peace and rest of having all my needs bountifully met, being provided with a comfortable place to lie down, and having God’s gentle leadership.
I surrender the blessings of restoration to my weary soul and clear guidance to my feet. I opt to walk through dark valleys unprotected and alone. I open myself up to enemies and scarcity. I give up the Lord’s favor in exchange for a life of struggle and strife apart from Him.
I can be one dumb sheep. Not proud of it – just owning it.
But just as I wildly searched for my missing boy, so the Good Shepherd would without hesitation leave the 99 to search for the one. Neither I nor He would have ever called off the search, but a whole lot of heartache could have been avoided if my little “wanderer” would have stayed close to my side.
That’s the same with our Good Shepherd. Psalm 23 beautifully depicts what life under His watchful eye has to offer. May you enjoy life under God’s blessing and care so that you never have to experience the fear and exhaustion of being far from His heart.
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“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23
