Messages and The Good Shepherd

By Gabriele Zapata, Grace Northridge

There are so many messages in the world. Everywhere you go someone wants to make you believe something. I may not have children, but I sit here writing this knowing I will in seven months’ time. And already the messages are bombarding me: what I can and cannot eat, what I should and should not do, how to sleep, what to buy, and the list goes on. Then it will come time for me to give birth, and will the messages stop? No! It will be as if they have just begun: eat this, buy this, try this, don’t do that, and again the list goes on. Now will they stop, at least the unhelpful and confusing ones? Nope. The messages do not stop; in fact, they not only target you as a parent, but they also begin to target your child.

This cycle continues for the rest of our lives. Every day we are being told a story through messages. Some of these messages are amazing: Sunday morning sermons, time in Scripture and words of encouragement and accountability. But then there are all the other messages.

I am an adult, and all these messages send me into a frenzy. So, what are they going to do to my child? How do I shield them? How do I influence them to piece through true and false messages? These questions get my heart pumping and my nerves reeling, and I want to be in control. Then, Psalm 23 comes to mind:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” (ESV)

These words speak of calm and peace, not anxiety. They say that God makes, leads, restores and is with me, that God’s rod and staff comfort me, and God prepares and anoints. Does this apply to me caring for a child? Yes! It tells me that he is the way and will help me to clearly see through all the messages. How? By letting him be the shepherd. Shepherds are the ones who plan where the sheep will sleep and graze, and the shepherd is the one who shields them from enemies. Do I let the Lord plan where I go every day? Do I believe that he is my shield?

The internet and even friend groups can send me in ways I never imagined, and it affects not only what I read but what I start to feel. And so it will be with our children. So, what do we do? We look to the Good Shepherd before we go on the internet, on social media and into our daily lives. We first have to surrender all to him so that he can lead and be our shield. This prepares our hearts to receive his voice. It is hard, because the world and the enemy will continue to fire messages to confuse and distract us. But God reminds us that he is our constant, righteous shepherd who will never be shaken.

So, let’s listen to this assurance that he speaks to us and even pray it over our children: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28 ESV)

What about my child? How do I shield them and influence them through all these messages? There is a reason I did not give a list of what to do in different scenarios, because we cannot lead or influence until we let our Creator lead and influence us. Remember Psalm 23: He makes, he leads, he restores, etc. So, if there is any leading or influencing we can do for our children, it is first to demonstrate what shepherd we daily follow and listen to. His message is the one that will make all the rest fall silent at his feet. Are we willing to listen and follow?

 

Gabriele Zapata is a member at Grace Northridge Anglican Church in San Antonio,TX. She has a Bachelors in Communication and Masters in Theological Studies. She is married to her husband Joel, and is happy to add one more to their family come December. She recently started a job at SeaWorld San Antonio as an educator. She loves being outside and getting to have relational conversations about Jesus. Gabriele and Joel also have a passion for creating community by hosting board game nights and parties.