Be Welcomed to Him

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep"

John 10:7

He is the Good Shepherd. John chapter ten takes on new meaning when it comes to depression and anxiety. He reminds you that He is the gate to safety. He is the one that looks over the sheep. He is the one that would lay down His life. (John 10:7-11). The ones who enter the pen through different ways, are thieves. The ones who run at the sight of danger are not the shepherd. He is. He is safety. He is hope. He is life.

Depression and anxiety at times take away the safety that you may feel. Depression and anxiety at times may lead to scrabbling, going through life through different doors, through different entrances, through different means--but not through the gate that He stands holding open. Depression and anxiety may lead to stealing of your own life through the struggle to cope with the experiences of depression and anxiety. But in any way that is not through the gate, is a way that leads to negative coping skills. These may take form in addiction, isolation, and withdrawal. You might find that not only do you have to cope with the experiences of depression and anxiety, but now you are coping with the experiences of the negative coping skills. You may find that not only are you now coping with these things, but you are also watching those around you wonder and become concerned. And yet, people all over the world continue to try to enter into the pen by any means but through the gate. They try to find a place of comfort by any means except through Him.

The Good Shepherd is one that looks after His sheep in the times of safety, calm, and known. The Good Shepherd is one that looks after His sheep in the times of difficulty, fear, danger, and worry. The times that depression and anxiety are not taking hold of your mind, life, and experiences the Good Shepherd is still present. The times that depression and anxiety are taking hold of your mind, life, and experiences the Good Shepherd is still present. And in the wondering through life searching for safety and finding it in all the wrong places, the Good Shepherd comes and searching for His sheep.

In this chapter of John you are reminded that God gave Jesus the authority to lay down His life. But it was a path that He still had to choose. He chose it because of His sheep. He saw that His sheep were lost. He saw that His sheep were searching for comfort in all the wrong places. He saw that His sheep needed Him. And with the authority given by God, He chose to save His sheep because He knew that what they needed was Him. He knew that what you need is Him. They needed the Good Shepherd that would protect them, even when wandering away from the safety of the herd. He knew that His sheep needed to be protected from things that they were doing, and the evils of the world around them. He saw them choosing the negative coping skills, He saw them choosing the fleeing, He saw them choosing the stealing and hiding and seeking out comfort in all the places but in Him. So, He chose His sheep. He chose them. Instead of fleeing, like the hired hand (John 10:12), He chose to protect, to guide to safety, and to comfort. He did this for the sheep that were there, and He did this for the sheep that He had to go get and bring back. He did this for you. And He does this for you in the present.

He does not check the mental status of the sheep before:

comforting them, saving them, and searching for them.

It is not a criteria for His love.

Scripture:

John 10

John 10:7-11

John 10:12

Questions:

Have you felt Him searching for you when you have wandered?

What takes you away from the safety of His presence when depression and anxiety arise? Do other things take you away from Him?

What is the experience like when He finds you and brings you home?

Prayer:

Father, you sent the Good Shepherd to find your people. And the Good Shepherd delivered to the people a promise unlike any other. Lord, I pray for those who are lost. I pray for those who have wandered from the safety of your arms. I pray for those who are searching for something that can only be found in you. Lord, depression and anxiety are tough, but I know that your comfort is the wrap around that they need in times that are tough. I pray that they are found. And Lord, I know that you find people where they are at, you go to them Father God. You do not wait for them to find you, rather you search for them and go to the depths of the earth to find them. Lord I pray that when you reach them, they come knowing that they are yours and they are loved. I pray this in your son's name. Amen.