“God, I need a woman of faith to talk to.”
I wanted support with some problems I was facing, but I wasn’t sure who to turn to. Then, not long after my prayer, as I listened to a woman speaking at church, I felt God point her out to me. “You can talk to her,” I sensed in my spirit.
Though Jesus is our ultimate Shepherd, He promises to send human shepherds—what we often call mentors—who will help us on our journey. In Jeremiah 3:15 He says, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (ESV).
In the Bible, over and over we see God using mentors to strengthen and train His people. Joshua was mentored by Moses. Ruth was guided by Naomi. Esther was advised by Mordecai. Timothy was taught by Paul. It’s easy to see the pillars of our faith as standalone superstars, but the truth is they didn’t become who they were in a vacuum. We’re no different than our predecessors. We, too, need mentors who can help us grow in our relationship with God and walk out our purpose.
After the church service that day, I approached the woman God had shown me. Through tears, I explained what was troubling me, and I asked if I could talk to her more about it sometime. To my relief, she assured me she would be happy to help however she could. Since then, I have been encouraged and strengthened by her wise shepherding on multiple occasions.
Are you looking for support in your faith journey? Ask God who might be a mentor for you. It doesn’t have to be a formal arrangement. A mentor could come in the form of a friend, a family member, a pastor, or fellow church member. They might mentor you for just a day or for many years. Whatever your season or circumstance, you can trust the Good Shepherd to bring you the right mentor at just the right time!
