“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
Although we are a few months removed from Christmas, I can’t help but think about a scene from a classic Christmas movie throughout the entire year. I bet you’ve seen it—The Grinch. In the beginning of the film, the Grinch describes his disdain for the cheery Whos down in Whoville, and in one particular scene, he grumbles, “And then all the noise. All the noise, noise, noise, noise!”
As a mother of two toddlers, this movie moment feels all too relatable at times. Whether you’re a mother or not, life in general can feel overwhelmingly loud at times, can’t it? Noise comes at us from every direction, whether it’s from a well-meaning family member, co-workers, news stories, or everyday responsibilities competing for our attention.
We want to be able to focus on the things that matter in life: our faith, family, health, and God-given assignments, yet so often, the constant noise dulls our sensitivity to the voice of our heavenly Father.
John 10:27 encourages us with a reassuring truth, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. In the midst of chaos and noise, He speaks in a calm, gentle tone. As believers, we can hear His voice.
The question isn’t whether He’s speaking.
The question is whether we are listening.
Growing in wisdom is a daily discipline, one that requires us to intentionally lean into the voice of our Good Shepherd. Sadly, His voice has always had competition. From charismatic false prophets to hard-hearted Pharisees who refused to believe He was the Messiah, discerning truth has never been without noise. This is why we must lean in even more; bad shepherds exist, but we have the ability to choose whose voice we listen to and follow.
Friend, if you’re like me, and life feels like a loud movie scene sometimes, I encourage you to evaluate the noise in your life. The competition for our time and attention is fierce, but the voice of our Shepherd is that of a friend. Jesus’ wisdom is personal and available, and He invites us to prioritize listening to His counsel, encouragement, direction, and correction above all else.
Do you want to gain wisdom from your Good Shepherd? Me too. Let’s step away from the noise, even for a moment, and into the peaceful presence of our heavenly Father, our Good Shepherd who speaks.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to focus on Your voice today. Wisdom is choosing You and Your ways. Speak, Lord, I am listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More? Read John 10. A Middle Eastern shepherd was known for having intimate knowledge of his sheep. How does this encourage you as you reflect on Jesus being your Good Shepherd? You can also read Psalm 23 as David, who was once a young shepherd, reflects on God being his ultimate shepherd.
