Max Lucado contrasts the images of a cowboy and a shepherd in Chapter 11 of A Gentle Thunder. For example, a cowboy yells at the cattle, while a shepherd calls each sheep by name. A cowboy drives cattle, a shepherd leads sheep.
How do we perceive Jesus during our transition or Land Between time? Max addresses this issue: “Aren’t we glad Christ didn’t call himself the Good Cowboy? A hard-faced, square-jawed ranch hand from heaven who drives his church against its will to places it doesn’t want to go. . . . We don’t need a cowboy to lead us; we need a shepherd to care for us and to guide us.”
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides for, blesses and leads us during our time of adversity, when we’re in a place we don’t want to be. He gently holds us in his arms.