I have a picture of Jesus carrying a sheep on his shoulders. Sheep are skittish creatures. The sound of a wolf or coyote can propel these animals into an anxious fit. To calm the sheep, a shepherd will often place the animal upon his shoulders. In no time, the nervous mutton will fall asleep.

     This image of a shepherd carrying the sheep is at the heart of today’s passage from                    Deuteronomy 33:12:

“The beloved of the LORD rests in safety—

the High God surrounds him all day long—

the beloved rests between his shoulders.”

     When a sheep is upon the shoulders of the Shepherd, it matters little that it is surrounded by predators. The sheep knows that its opponents cannot reach high enough to pose any significant danger.

          One of my most cherished memories is sleeping between my parents in the front seat of the family station wagon when I was a child. (Such was the time when seatbelts and car seats were not mandatory.) Storms could be raging outside the vehicle. Danger could be lurking around the next bend in the form of a wayward semi. None of these things concerned me simply because I was safely tucked between the two people I trusted most in the world.

         What if each of us could assume a similar level of confidence with respect to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? Regardless of potential hazards  that form around us—be they job loss, health concerns, parenting challenges, and the like—a peace that passes all understanding guards our hearts and minds because of the great faith we have in the One who carries us.

         So, here’s some advice to all you sheep who have trouble sleeping at night. Ask your Shepherd to elevate your trust in Him. And, if you need an extra dose of help, try counting sheep.