He is

The Need for Workers

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37 He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

matthew 9

who else can admit that at least in one time in our lives, we've had bouts of confusion and helplessness. i'm willing to bet a lot of people in the world still feel the same way, even though they're not willing to admit it. especially in our culture, it seems like we all have to find our own way. we're faced with so many choices and roads that we don't know which one to choose. we end up changing majors time and time again. or we end up changing careers, even. some of us end up where we never intended to be and are simply stuck and that's where the helplessness comes in. the sense of "if i don't keep this job, if i don't go to this school, if i don't live up to society's expectations of me, i fail." and there's no way out of it. it's a scary spiral of us trying to live up to other people's expectations. so many of us are just trapped in this cycle of "living." school, job, family, retirement, die. pass it on. next. next. next. and this is where Jesus, the shepherd, comes in. i've probably talked about this before, but i love this one thing that mike erie shared with us at rockharbor one night. it's that following Jesus means giving up the rights to controlling your own life. but also that following Jesus means getting to give up the rights to running your own life. it's too hard to do it alone. He shows you where to go. He tells you what to say. He guides you. He gives me the freedom of living a life that isn't confined to a box and set structure. He is my shepherd, and i won't be wanting. He keeps me safe. He cares for me. He never leaves my side. i'm not as confused anymore. i understand a little bit more why. i'm not helpless anymore. i've got all the help i can get from Him. He strengthens me, encourages me, lifts me up. He is my rock and my fortress. i don't think i acknowledge that enough. i don't think i remember how confused or helpless i was before i met Him. thank God He found me.

the harvest is plenty. there are people who need to hear this message. that they are not alone, that they don't have to be confused anymore, that they don't have to feel helpless anymore. everybody needs to hear this. the prayer that Jesus asked His disciples to pray 2000 years ago is still so relevant today. we need more people to share this message with the world. there are breaking hearts all over the world today and they need to hear that God is here. He is strong. He is mighty to save. He is in control. He will not leave us. He is.