Know His Voice

I saw this video today as I was wasting time scrolling through social media, as you do, about bummer lambs. It really spoke to me, so I wanted to share.

According to the woman in the video (I couldn't find her name), a bummer lamb is one who is rejected by its mother. Sometimes, for whatever reason, after a lamb is born, the mother ewe rejects it. She refuses to feed it or take care of it, and if the shepherd tries to push the issue, the mother will even kick the lamb away. The shepherd then has to step in and raise the lamb. He takes the lamb home and bottle-feeds him. He holds him and keeps him warm. He murmurs encouragement in the lamb's ear.

She says in the video that without the shepherd's intervention, a bummer lamb would die - not from hunger, but rather from a broken spirit. The spirit of being unwanted. The shepherd protects the lamb because he accepts the lamb. He helps the lamb know he is not unwanted by the one who matters most. The shepherd cares for the forsaken sheep.

Once the lamb is big enough and strong enough, he is integrated back into the flock.

Here's what it gets good. Remember when Jesus said, the sheep know the shepherd's voice (John 10:27? When the shepherd goes out and calls the flock, guess who are the first sheep to respond to his voice? The bummer lambs! They are the first to respond because they know his voice so well.

This beautiful story reminds me of the verse in Psalms 24:18 that says God is close to the brokenhearted. 

The Shepherd cares for His forsaken sheep, too.

People often feel forsaken when they go through something difficult or traumatic in life. Maybe they've been rejected. Or abused. Or neglected. Or betrayed. Their spirits are broken. They feel unwanted. Unloved. Unseen. They may feel like God Himself has abandoned them. 

But what if, instead, the good Shepherd has been holding them close all along? Murmuring words of encouragement in their ears. Providing comfort and warmth. Wanting the unwanted. Loving the unloved. Caring for the forsaken.

Why then can it be hard to hear Him?

I think it's because the voice of trauma can make it very difficult.

The voice of trauma is loud. It screams lies into our ears. It disparages our identity, who we are, and who we were created to be. It tells falsehoods about God, His faithfulness, His love, and His mercy. The voice of trauma when heard repeatedly or for a long period of time becomes something we internalize. It becomes a voice we call our own, even though it was never meant to be our own, even though it's merely a sign of our wounding.

We listen to that internal voice because it's familiar. But it's cruel, the voice of trauma. It'll tear us down and beat us up. 

On the contrary, God's voice is not often loud. God's voice isn't in the thunder or the rain or the cyclone. God's voice comes like a whisper on a soft breeze. The shrieks of trauma can drown out His soft voice... if we allow it to.

Those who seek to hear God's voice, I believe, will find it.

Murmuring quietly into their spirit, I love you. I want you. I choose you. I died for you. I live for you. You are mine.

The murmurs come in quiet, still moments. The murmurs come through the spoken Word of a trusted, faithful friend or a pastor. The murmurs come through Scripture, speaking into our hearts.

The murmurs come when we silence the other voices. When we tell the voice of trauma in our head - That is not who I am. I don't have to listen to you. I know who I am. I know whose I am. The only voice that matters is that of my Father and what He says about me.

God is close to the brokenhearted. The Shepherd knows and seeks His sheep. And those who follow Him know His voice. They know His voice because they have been through times of great suffering, and He never left them.

Going through trauma is no one's choice. We do not desire it or seek it. Yet no one will escape times of suffering.

The promise of God is to be with us through it all. Comforting. Consoling. Restoring. 

Loving.

Listen for His voice.

He is speaking even now.

DID YOU KNOW... You can subscribe to my blog through Substack? No membership required and free! Check it out, here: https://substack.com/@jadedevangelical.