Shepherding by Waiting without Words

As I have been shepherding some new ones and in the process the Lord has been teaching me more and more lessons on how to care for the saints. One important lesson I have been learning these days is, to wait and pray. Oftentimes, I wanted to say something to the ones I have been shepherding, but the divine instruction is, to wait and pray. This lesson is not so easy to learn when the ones you care for are not doing well spiritually. Naturally, there is a sense of responsibility to do something with the view of shepherding them. But that's just the natural man. This lesson of self-denial and learning to wait is not an easy lesson to learn. Yet, the Lord in His faithfulness has been teaching me this lesson. Wait without saying a word and just pray for the ones you care about.

Sometimes, it would be much easier for me to simply wait and pray if I had no words to say. But when I know things so well and I have words in abundance, yet the Holy Spirit is forbidding me to say anything, it was rather difficult to simply wait and keep mum.  This is the lesson of the cross every shepherd needs to learn. Sometimes, the best shepherding is by not saying anything, but waiting and praying for the ones under my care.

I have been regularly calling up at least seven new ones on a weekly basis to shepherd them. Some of them are responding very well to my shepherding care, yet a few others are closed, at times making it hard for me to contact them. Even if I want to talk to them, visit them, or even pray with them, if they do not open up, I just cannot do anything. That's when the lesson of waiting comes in. Of course, waiting with prayer.

This reminds me of a hymn that I used to sing when I was in college with a couple of other brothers in the Lord. Teach Me Lord to Wait

Teach me Lord to wait down on my knees
Till in Your own good time You answer my pleas
Teach me not to rely on what others do
But to wait in prayer for an answer from You

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength

They shall mount up with wings as eagles

They shall run and not be weary

They shall walk and not faint

Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait

Teach me Lord to wait while hearts are aflame
Let me humble my pride and call on Your name
Keep my faith renewed, my eyes on Thee
Let me be on this earth what you want me to be

There's a time and a season for all things
You promised in Your word to answer my pleas
I'm crying to You, Lord to grant sweet relief
Oh, Lord remove all my unbelief

Stuart Hamblen

The ones under my shepherding care the ones my "teachers" too. They have been teaching me life lessons. The more I care for them, the more lessons I learn from them. I believe the Lord also uses them to train me. Even their closeness or openness is used by the Lord to train and perfect me. Ultimately, I am the one shepherded by my shepherding others. This lesson is not easy to learn. 

Shepherding by waiting without words. Teach me, Lord, to learn this lesson well.