The Good Shepherd also has a staff which He uses in His care for the sheep. With that staff, He draws in the sheep to Himself when a sheep slides over the edge of a cliff. The staff has a hooked end with which He can fit around the sheep’s body and rescue him from his fall. The Shepherd is always aware of His sheep and knows when one wanders off. He will look for it until He finds it. This is a great comfort to us as His sheep.
It is a great comfort to know that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because our Good Shepherd was tempted in all points like as we are and yet He never sinned once (Hebrews 4:14-16). Because of all this, He invites us to come boldly unto the throne of grace, so we can find the mercy we need, and also, receive the grace to help in our time of need.
It brings great honor to Him when we trust Him completely. When we present our needs to Him freely and He can see that we really trust Him, it will greatly move His heart of compassion towards us. With His staff He can beat back the brush and thistles and thorns of the cares of this life, worries and confusion. Then He can draw us back to the green pastures and still waters that we have wandered away from. He greatly desires to see us prosper. As our needs are met at His throne of grace He can lead us in His right paths and help us to prosper in those things that He has appointed us to.
Let There Be Life 