The Good Shepherd

I’ve been enjoying a 21-day consecration with my church that has been incredibly refreshing. (And yes, I said my church—more on that later, because it deserves its own blog.)

Although I’ve participated in many consecrations over the years, this one felt different. For the first time, I didn’t use the time to ask God for things—promotion, opportunity, or even provision. Instead, I wrote down three concerns and prayed simply for clarity and direction.

By Day 13, clarity came for the second concern on my list. I didn’t force it or strive for it—I just stayed faithful to the process. On the other side of that obedience was more than clarity; there was understanding, encouragement, and favor.

The third concern on my list was the Well Woman Movement.

After canceling our January event, I found myself quietly asking questions I never thought I would ask: What’s next? How do I continue? Is this the end?

It was during my devotion on Day 18 that the Holy Spirit gently but clearly reminded me of something crucial: the enemy is after my energy—my strength. His goal is to overwhelm me with one thing after another until I don’t have the capacity to steward what God has already entrusted to me. And that truth described my October through December perfectly.

I was navigating the transition from our previous church while visiting new ones, managing family tensions and diagnoses, prayerfully planning our family’s future, and still trying to create a meaningful and memorable holiday season. By the time January arrived, I was depleted. I didn’t have the strength to host an event or minister with excellence—so I canceled it.

And in that exhausted state, I made the mistake of questioning the very assignment God gave me.

But thank God for Day 18.

That devotion didn’t just remind me to protect my strength—it reminded me of who restores it. “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3a ESV). He restores my mind, will, and emotions to their original state—free from anxiety, confusion, and heaviness. And He does it “…for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3b ESV). Not because I earned it, but because He is good, faithful, and committed to His reputation in my life.

Now, I won’t pretend this consecration has been all wins and uninterrupted peace. There has been spiritual warfare.

Spontaneous laryngitis. A routine oil change that turned into an unexpected $500+ expense. And our main water pipe bursting—twice.

Yet, to the enemy’s dismay, my response each time was faith. I was more grateful for the peace I felt in the middle of each situation than I was bothered by the inconvenience itself.

As this 21-day consecration comes to a close on February 4, I’m still believing God for clarity on the first concern on my list. And even as I was writing this, the Holy Spirit lovingly convicted me because I wanted clarity without obedience. Specifically, without doing my part—reaching out.

For weeks, I had delayed sending a simple email because I was afraid of the response. And the conviction came plainly: That’s fear, not faith.

So I sent the email.

No matter what the response is, I’m anchored in this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1 NIV). Because the Good Shepherd doesn’t just provide—He leads. And where He leads, there is always exactly what I need.

If this season has taught me anything, it’s this: exhaustion can distort perspective, but restoration restores truth. And the work God began in us—He is faithful to complete it.

P.S. If this resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with another woman who may be navigating a season of weariness or restoration. And if you’re comfortable, leave a comment sharing what God has been restoring in you—your testimony may be the encouragement someone else needs right now.