A Shepherd in the Storm

Date: Friday, November 21, 2025

Readings: Psalm 46 | Zechariah 11:1-17 | 1 Peter 1:3-9

Zechariah paints a sobering picture of leaders who abandon their flock instead of protecting it. It’s a prophetic mirror held up to every generation. We see its reflection in failed institutions, moral compromises, and the kind of public leadership that feeds anxiety rather than peace. The ache Zechariah names is painfully modern.

But Scripture never leaves us in despair. Peter points us toward a living hope, a resurrection hope that anchors the soul deeper than the failures of human shepherds. Our faith is not kept alive by perfect systems or flawless leaders but by the God who raised Jesus from the dead. This hope is rugged, forged in trial, more like tempered steel than fragile optimism.

The prior reading of Psalm 46 this week steps into that tension, declaring that even when nations shake and mountains crumble, God remains our refuge. Not the false security of power. Not the illusion of control. Not the charisma of broken shepherds. God alone.

In a storm-tossed world, God teaches us to discern the difference between voices that exploit fear and the Shepherd who leads us through it.

Devotional Prompts:

• Where have failed leaders distorted your sense of trust or spiritual safety?
• How might God be calling you to anchor your hope in His character rather than human systems?
• What does faith refined “like gold” look like in your current season?

Prayer:
Good Shepherd, heal the wounds left by those who failed to care for Your flock. Restore my trust in Your steady presence, anchor my hope in Christ, and refine my faith until it reflects Your glory. Amen.