The Only Place I Want to Be

God’s Promise

Psalm 73:28 – But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Men, I can still remember so many days when my son was little, and all he wanted was to be with me. No big plans, no toys, no distractions—just me. Even now, as a grown man, he still makes time to be with me, and I treasure that. But there’s something about those early years, when your child depends on you for so much, and you can see it in his face—he’s full of joy just being near you. You don’t have to entertain him or keep him busy. He’s just happy being with his dad. No place in the world could top that—not even sitting on Santa’s lap.

There’s one memory that’s stuck with me all these years. Just a simple picture of the two of us sitting in the back of our old mini-van. The back door was up, and we were waiting for a parade to pass by. There was nothing remarkable happening—no music, no show. Just a quiet moment with my boy. But to me, that’s one of the richest memories I have as a father. Because in that moment, my son didn’t want to be anywhere else. It wasn’t about the parade or anything else around us. He just wanted to be with me. That was enough.

And as I think back on that picture, I realize—that’s how I want to be with Jesus. Just me and Him. No agenda, no performance. Just sitting with Him at the right hand of God. The more I write these letters and reflect on God’s Word, the clearer it becomes—that’s where my heart longs to be. If eternity with Jesus is even half as good as the joy I feel just thinking about it, then I know it’s going to be beyond anything I can imagine.

That’s when it hits me—shepherding my family flows from that same desire. True shepherding doesn’t come from me working harder or trying to be a perfect father. It comes from being so caught up in God’s presence, so abandoned to who He is, that my love for my wife and kids just overflows naturally. It’s His work in me, not my work for them.

When I try to shepherd on my own—when I get focused on my own steps, my own plans, my own reputation—I lose sight of who I’m really following. I start tuning into WIIFM—”What’s In It For Me?”—instead of listening for WGOD—”What’s God’s Desire?” Suddenly, I’m more worried about messing up than I am about staying close to Him. And the more I overthink, the more I realize I’m shepherding from my own strength instead of being led by His.

Brothers, we need to be like our children once were—completely abandoned to the joy of just being with our Shepherd. Not running around trying to impress Him. Not filling our days with spiritual to-do lists. Just being with Him—because He is the only place we want to be. That’s the heart of shepherding. When we draw near to Jesus, our wives and children will feel it. They’ll see that we aren’t just managing our homes—we’re leading them closer to the One we love most.

Let’s be men who shepherd from the overflow. Men who crave the presence of God more than the approval of men. Men who don’t just teach our families about Jesus but show them what it looks like to love Him so deeply, so naturally, that they can’t help but want to follow too. That’s the kind of shepherding that changes a home. And it starts by drawing near to our Shepherd, because there’s no better place to be.

Shepherding in Action: Today’s Value

Abandonment to God — A shepherd’s strength flows from surrender. The closer we draw to our Shepherd, the stronger our leadership becomes.

Reflection Questions

1. Think about your own shepherding—are you leading your family from the overflow of being near Jesus, or are you trying to manage it all on your own? (John 15:4-5)
2. What’s one simple way you can show your wife or children today that your greatest joy comes from time with God? (Psalm 16:11)
3. When was the last time you sat still with God, not asking for anything, just being with Him like a child with his father? (Psalm 131:2)

Bible References

• Psalm 73:28 – But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
• John 15:4-5 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
• Psalm 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
• Psalm 131:2 – But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Prayer

Father, help me to shepherd my family the way You shepherd me. Draw my heart so close to Yours that my wife and children can see Your love in the way I lead them. Teach me to be still with You, to want nothing more than to sit at Your feet and follow where You lead. Amen.

My Personal Journey

These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and shepherding like Jesus. If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.

To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

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