Cast down sheep...

Today while meditating & praying,I came across this passage that pinpoints what we often feel. It's nice to know that we can chose to turn to our Shepherd, the author and keeper of our lives. He restores our souls.
This is an excerpt from one of the chapters in 'Our Daily Bread (Annual Edition 2010)'


In his classic book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, W. Phillip Keller gives a striking picture of the care and gentleness of a shepherd. In verse 3 when David says, “He restores my soul,” he uses language every shepherd would understand.

Sheep are built in such a way that if they fall over on their side and then onto their back, it is very difficult for them to get up again. They flail their legs in the air, bleat, and cry. After a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs, the stomach hardens, the air passage is cut off, and the sheep will eventually suffocate. This is referred to as a “cast down” position.
When a shepherd restores a cast down sheep, he reassures it, massages its legs to restore circulation, gently turns the sheep over, lifts it up, and holds it so it can regain its equilibrium.
What a picture of what God wants to do for us! When we are on our backs, flailing because of guilt, grief, or grudges, our loving Shepherd reassures us with His grace, lifts us up, and holds us until we’ve gained our spiritual equilibrium.
If you’ve been cast down for any reason, God is the only one who can help you get on your feet again. He will restore your confidence, joy, and strength.

My confession: I have felt like a cast down sheep many times
My testimony: A hand has always reached out to me at the lowest ebbs of those times, hug me, soothing me and helped me get up on my feet.

Thank you my Shepherd.