When I first started college I felt completely lost. In high school, I could easily find a teacher, counselor, or administer all in one building to help guide me to where I needed to go. But universities typically consist of many buildings with many offices, the first year (and pretty much the rest of my years) consisted mostly of me using time between class ping-ponging to different buildings and offices for guidance on financial aid, non-academic deadlines, and academic decisions. Once I learned where to go for help, it got a little easier.

This was adulthood in training, and truth be told, I still don’t feel good at it. I don’t know if anyone does. Life is chock-full of navigating, decision-making, and juggling different responsibilities without an advisor or life coach by our side at all times to help us.

We do, however, have The Good Shepherd.

As often as I have remind myself to “Be still”, I also have to remember Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

A shepherd’s job is to tend to the sheep. He leads them to better pastures so that they may eat well. The shepherd binds up the injured, takes care of weak, and searches for the ones who have gone astray.

And the his sheep follow him and him alone. Not because they are mindless. Not because they are forced to. They follow him because they trust him.

John 10:3-4 tells us one of the most important factors of following the good shepherd: The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

I have to emphasize that last part.

The sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

God is our Shepherd. He leads us to greener pastures so that we may rest. He heals, protects, and rescues His flock. He calls them out by name.

How astounding is that? He knows your name, and He calls out for you.

The sheep follow him, for they know his voice. This means we have to know His voice in order to follow.

John 10:5 explains why.

A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

So many people have followed “strangers” and have been led astray. The stranger does not love or care for them the way The Good Shepherd does. When the wolf prowls, the stranger will flee instead of protect. Thrown out to the wolves and abandoned is the most scary, daunting, and loneliest feeling.

But The Good Shepherd makes good on His promise. We will seek out the lost and bring them home. Not by force, but by faith.

You may wonder how someone can know a voice they can’t hear with their own ears. If you’ve ever been asked, “What would your father/mother say about this?”, you probably know the answer. You know the answer because you know their heart. You know their love. It’s the same way with God.

To know God’s heart is to read His word, pray to Him, and sit silently in His presence. Spend time with Him in faith (even if it’s the size of a mustard seed) and an open heart. It won’t be long before His voice will be embedded into your heart, soul, and mind.

Scriptures to read: Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, John 10: 1-21, and 1 Peter 1