Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked — the God who has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day, . . ."

Genesis 48:15

Jacob, in his blessing of Joseph's sons, referred to the Lord as "the God who has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day" (Gen. 48:15). What a contrast to Jacob's statement to Pharaoh: "I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years." Perhaps in his last days on earth, Jacob could finally see how God had cared for him throughout his days, even though many were difficult and filled with grief.

When our lives are difficult, we often struggle to see God's shepherding hand. Randomness and unfairness seem to rule, rather than a gracious, sovereign God. Sometimes we struggle to believe, as doubt and despair choke our faith. Like the Psalmist, we cry out to God for help, begging him to hurry to save us (for example, Psalm 6).

When we look back upon our lives, even upon the most difficult times, we can see how God was present and at work. We realize how he was using difficulties to shape us in the image of Christ. We see how even God's apparent absence from our consciousness was an act of grace. Like Jacob, we are finally able to confess that God has been our shepherd all of our life.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How confident are you today that God is your shepherd? Are you in a place of doubt and discouragement? Or is the presence of God almost tangible?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I believe that you are my shepherd. As I look back on my life, I'm filled with gratitude for the ways you have guided and nourished me. You have been there in my bleakest hours, as well as in times of joy.

Help me, dear Lord, to know that you are watching over me, even in times of challenge and crises. Increase my trust in you, so that I might rest in your protective care.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

We are thine; do thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Amen.

Song: "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us," attributed to Dorothy Thrupp, 1836.