Life is full of moments where we feel overwhelmed, alone, or even abandoned—by people, by circumstances, and sometimes, if we’re honest, by God Himself. It’s easy to find ourselves in situations we never intended, whether by impulsive decisions, like eating a dangerously spicy gummy bear without thinking, or by stepping into relational or professional messes that weren’t ours to fix. Often, we act first and think later, only to realize we’re in over our heads. Proverbs warns us that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death,” reminding us that our instincts and plans, apart from God’s guidance, can lead us into trouble.
Yet, the heart of God is not to abandon us in these moments. The stories of David and Jonah illustrate this beautifully. David, despite his failures and deep grief, could still declare, “The Lord is my shepherd.” He knew firsthand the pain of loss, betrayal, and his own sin, but he also knew the faithfulness of God who walks with us through the darkest valleys. David’s confidence wasn’t rooted in his own perfection, but in his understanding of the shepherd’s role: to guide, protect, and restore.
Jonah, on the other hand, ran from God’s call, convinced he knew better. Even in his rebellion, God pursued him—not to punish, but to restore. God’s mercy extended not just to the people of Nineveh, but to Jonah himself, showing that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our faithfulness. When we are faithless, He remains faithful.
Many of us develop trust issues with God because we confuse our own choices with His leading. We walk ahead or away, then wonder why we feel lost. But the truth is, the Good Shepherd never abandons His sheep. Even when we can’t see Him, He is searching for us, calling us back, and ready to restore us. Our part is not to strive or fix, but to stop, listen, and relearn the sound of His voice—primarily through His Word. When we do, we discover that we were never truly alone, and that His love is more relentless and compassionate than we could ever imagine.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Our instincts and plans, no matter how right they seem in the moment, can lead us into trouble if we don’t pause to seek God’s guidance. Proverbs repeats the warning that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death,” urging us to take seriously the need for discernment and humility before acting. This is a call to slow down, pray, and listen before jumping into situations, trusting that God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. [08:16]
- 2. God’s faithfulness is not contingent on our faithfulness. Even when we run from Him, as Jonah did, or fail Him, as David did, God pursues us with relentless grace. He does not give up on us, but allows us to reach the end of ourselves so that we might turn back and experience restoration and mercy. [26:13]
- 3. The Good Shepherd’s care is both personal and persistent. David’s declaration in Psalm 23 is not the voice of someone who never suffered, but of someone who knew pain and still trusted the Shepherd’s presence. The shepherd’s role is to guide, protect, and nourish, even when the sheep are too nearsighted to see beyond their immediate circumstances. [30:13]
- 4. When we feel abandoned by God, it’s often because we have walked ahead of Him or away from Him, not because He has left us. The challenge is to honestly ask ourselves whether we are following His lead or our own impulses. Sometimes, God allows us to reach places of weakness so that we might learn to lean on Him and rediscover His strength in our vulnerability. [31:08]
- 5. The way back to trust is not through striving, but through stopping and listening for the Shepherd’s voice. In a world full of noise and distraction, we must relearn to recognize God’s voice through His Word, not just through the voices of others. When we stop running and wait for Him, we find that He is already on His way to restore us, and our trust issues begin to fade as we experience His faithful pursuit. [37:48]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:38] - The Challenge of Following Jesus
- [02:50] - Acting Without Thinking: The Gummy Bear Story
- [05:50] - When Consequences Hit Hard
- [06:24] - Proverbs: The Way That Seems Right
- [08:16] - Jumping In Without God’s Guidance
- [09:31] - Trust Issues: When We Feel Alone
- [12:51] - Hiding God’s Word in Our Hearts
- [14:02] - David’s Pain and Faith
- [16:15] - David’s Grief and God’s Faithfulness
- [17:05] - Understanding the Shepherd’s Role
- [17:51] - Jonah: Running From God
- [20:22] - Jonah’s Repentance and God’s Mercy
- [24:05] - God’s Heart for Restoration
- [27:47] - If We Are Faithless, He Remains Faithful
- [30:13] - The Good Shepherd’s Care
- [32:05] - The Lost Sheep and the Shepherd’s Pursuit
- [35:36] - Facing Feelings of Abandonment
- [37:10] - Stop, Listen, and Wait for the Shepherd
- [39:39] - Rediscovering the Shepherd’s Voice
- [41:00] - Closing Reflections on the Good Shepherd
