The Good Shepherd

I can’t imagine why the scene came to mind…
I read something dark, something evil in the news—again.
Sadness settled heavy, not just for myself,
but for her, the woman in the story.
How could I hold joy today,
when somewhere else, pain was swallowing someone whole?

Eternal colors—gold and violet, earth and water—
Christ, Christ, again Christ.
He kept coming to mind,
even as my thoughts spiraled into the ache of the world.
I stopped the scenery, let it all fade,
focused only on Him.

But why? But why? Why is life so hard sometimes?
Still, He stayed.
Still, I kept seeing Christ.

I turned to scripture—some relief.
I listened to gospel sounds—some comfort.
But it didn’t erase the weight of sorrow.
There is so much pain.
And at the end of the day, I cannot stop it.

What have they done to deserve this?
The question burned.

And then—
David Butler’s words returned to me,
words I had heard just this morning, words I now needed:

“After the whipping and the thorns and the terrible pain,
He doesn’t give up. He doesn’t give in.
And so we can trust His strength.”

No coincidence. Just grace.

There is a strange duality in this life.
Deserts—dry, depleted—
but they still have rivers.
Sorrow, real and relentless—
but so is hope.

He understood me.
And though I’ll grieve again, fear again, ache again—
I will pray fervently and know:
All will be made right.
It still hurts.

But He remains.
After the lashes, the thorns, the unbearable pain,
He does not waver, does not break, does not bend.
He gives not in, but gives Himself—again and again,
So we can trust His strength without end.

.. And that makes my heart weep and trust, all the same time.
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