Worthy of sharing

Wow and ouch!!  Tonight I was reading in my bible study and read this ....

John 10:27 : "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." The ancient Middle Eastern shepherd's relationship with his sheep was complex and intimate.  Without a shepherd's loving guidance, the sheep would stumble upon disaster and perish.  When a shepherd found that a particular lamb refused to obey, he would break the rebellious lamb's leg so that it would need to be carried. Slung across the shoulders of his shepherd, the lamb became accustomed to the voice of the shepherd in a new way.  When healed, the lamb followed the shepherd without question.  Why?  Because during a season of pain he'd become acquainted with the voice of the one who loved him.

He is always speaking to us we just don't always know his voice and the reason is have we committed to Him and learned His voice??  I love that it says "during the season of pain he'd become acquainted with the voice of the one who loved him." If we didn't have those seasons would we bother listening??  If our lives were smooth and perfect would we learn His voice??  When we walk in those hard times we need our Shepherd in a whole new way!  I am thankful for that because I have learned some valuable lessons during those times of pain.  I am still learning though!