Shepherds After God's Heart

Byron Wicker
Byron Wicker
July 31, 2025
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Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.
-Matthew 9:36

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

One of my earliest and most unforgettable shepherding experiences was with a twelve- year-old girl fighting a brain tumor. After her surgery, she ended up in the ICU. I would slip away two or three times a week during my lunch breaks to pray for her. I felt filled with the Holy Spirit’s pleasure and presence each time I returned to work. It was as if I were doing what I was created to do.

She eventually moved to a rehab center, and one evening, some friends and I visited her. We brought guitars and filled her room with prayers and worship. Soon, curious and desperate faces peeked in, drawn by the music. Some asked us to pray and sing for their sick children. Looking back, it still pulls on my heartstrings to think about those desperate families and suffering children, but knowing Jesus was with us, touching lives in ways we could never have imagined, brings comfort.

Later, when the Lord called me to pastor our church, a friend asked, “How will you help those people?” I had a mental list of plans for those first few months, but when I opened my mouth, something unexpected came out: “I’m going to help them draw closer to God, to know Him and His ways—and He’ll take care of them.” That wasn’t my plan—it was God’s. And all these years later, the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me: it’s still His plan.

When Jesus saw the crowds, His heart broke for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He turned to His disciples and said, “The harvest is plentiful, but there are not enough workers. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the fields!” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus longs for us to have shepherds—those willing to walk alongside us through life’s challenges and heartaches.

One of the more inspiring pastoral stories in the Bible is Peter’s restoration after denying Jesus three times. As part of that restoration, Jesus entrusted him with caring for His lambs and sheep (John 21:15-17). Peter’s story shows us that even when we’ve messed up, if our heart is still in step with the Shepherd, God can use us in ways that go far beyond what we can see.

I’ve learned the hard way to be cautious, because the enemy will attempt to hinder biblical shepherding, such as by chasing every new “wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), following trendy church movements, and imitating or comparing yourself to others. To guard against the enemy’s strategy, remain rooted in Him, listen to His voice, and care for the sheep He entrusted to you with His steadfast, faithful love. Proverbs captures this essence well: “Know your flock well and keep a close watch on your herds” (Proverbs 27:23).

True shepherding isn’t about our strength, love, or wisdom; it’s about relying on Him. When we lean into the Good Shepherd, He equips us to reflect His care, patience, and hope. The girl in the ICU, the desperate families in the rehab center, and the people down through the years and congregations have taught me that shepherding is ultimately about leading people to know God, encounter His presence, and walk in His ways. And when we do that, He takes care of everything else.

Many Blessings, BW

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