Sheep Before the Shearers

“He was quiet, like a little sheep.” — from Isaiah 53

Have you ever seen a sheep with its thick, woolly coat? Once a year, the farmer gives each sheep a haircut. It’s called shearing. He snips off all the heavy wool so the sheep will be cool and comfy in the warm summer.

Now, a wise sheep does a clever thing while it is being sheared. It lies very, very still. And because it stays still, the sharp shears never hurt it at all. But if a sheep kicks and wriggles and fights — ouch! — that’s when it can get nicked. The wriggling is what hurts, not the shears.

The Bible says that sometimes God is like that gentle farmer, and we are like the sheep. Sometimes God takes something away from us that we love. It can make us very sad, like losing our warm woolly coat.

But listen — here are three things to remember.

God only shears in the warm weather, never in the freezing cold. That means God knows the right time, and he will never give you more than you can bear.

The wool always grows back. God never takes something away without having something good to give.

And it hurts least when you stay still and trust him, instead of kicking and fighting.

And do you know who lay perfectly still, like a little sheep? Jesus did. When people were unkind to him, he stayed quiet and gentle, all because he loved us. So when a hard thing comes, you can be brave and still, just like Jesus.

Dear God, when something makes me sad, help me stay still and trust you, because I know you love me. Amen.