Have you ever heard someone who is going through a tough time say, “What do people do who don’t have Jesus in their lives?” By God’s grace, I’ve never experienced that reality.

Today you will face difficulties and struggles and temptations and sins—most of it no one will know about. But there is One who does. He knows you. He knows your name. He knows your needs. He knows your failures. And because he knows you, with all that you face, he will help you. He knows you . . . and you know him.

Today you will hear a lot of voices, many of which intend you harm. But Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). See, that’s something admirable about sheep. Go to a watering hole in the desert of Palestine. You’ll find multiple shepherds and their flocks all mingled together. You’d think that it would be tough to separate them all out. But it’s not. All it takes is for the shepherd to call out, and instantly the sheep follow his voice. Sheep won’t budge for a stranger’s voice. In the midst of all the voices you hear today, pick out the soothing voice of your Shepherd and follow him. He never leads you wrong.

Aren’t you glad that you’ll never have to know the reality of what it’s like not to have Jesus? Me too!