Havenlight Publishing
The Shepherd Who Stays
The Story Behind The Shepherd Who Stays
When my spirit became wounded by sin, injured, blood-stained, and heavy with sorrow, I knew I needed help, but I felt unworthy even to ask. In that place of shame and exhaustion, I prayed for relief, pleading that Christ would remove my “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
Again and again, He came, not always with instant deliverance, but with comfort. As I continually sought Him, I began to feel His quiet, steady presence. Like the Shepherd who “leaves the ninety and nine” to find the one (Luke 15:4–7), He did not abandon me in my wilderness.
Christ waited patiently until I was ready to hand over every burden tied to my sins and sorrows. He did not recoil from my wounds; He “bindeth up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1) and “healeth the contrite of heart” (Psalm 147:3). In my darkest moments, He stayed with me, holding, guiding, and comforting, until the day I could finally give it all to Him and feel His redeeming love.
The Shepherd Who Stays is a witness of that divine constancy: Jesus Christ does not turn away from our afflictions. He waits, He stays, and when we are ready, He heals.
Our Float Frame is custom-made with a small gap between the frame and canvas to accentuate the edges of the artwork and give the illusion of a floating image within the frame.
About this Piece
I had difficulty coming up with the title of this piece. I showed this to my wife and asked what thoughts came to her mind, she profoundly and emotionally responded: “The Journey Home.” He will always leave the ninety-nine to look for you, no matter how far you have strayed, you cannot stray far enough from his divine love. He will find you and bring you back home.