Wandering Off the Path

As a support worker I am responsible for the children in my care, and on a recent day trip during the summer holidays I was responsible for keeping four and five-year olds safe. It was my job to guide and direct the children, ensuring that they stayed on the path and kept hold of their buddy’s hand.

There was a young girl (let’s call her Susan) who kept wandering off the path. She would let go of her buddy’s hand. I spent most of that day keeping a close eye on Susan and will forever have her name etched in my brain. This young girl was easily distracted by what was going on around her and needed my guidance to keep her focused on the path and direction we were heading. It was my job to keep her safe.

Later I was contemplating on the day and Isaiah 53:6 came to mind: ‘All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all’. It really spoke to me about how Jesus guides us. He leads us back into the fold when we wander off the path. Jesus takes responsibility for us. He paid the price for our sins.

I then went on to think about John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep”.‬‬‬‬‬‬ I knew that I would do anything to keep the children in my care safe. How much more would Jesus do for us? I sat and asked myself whether I have ever wandered off the path and gone astray. We can be easily distracted at times. But oh, what a joy it is to know that we have a good loving shepherd to guide us back on to the path, to know we have someone looking out for us!

Have you wandered off the path? Let the Good shepherd guide you back. Listen to His gentle voice.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You are a good shepherd, always looking out for us and guiding us. Lord, I come back on to the path. Please lead me, guide me and keep me safe. Thank you. Amen.