1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
God promises that you are returned. You are now in safe place, where you are protected, fed, nourished, loved, and cared for. Once you were lost, strayed, separated, alone, isolated, and dying in the desert of the world with predators and dangers all around. We were born that way, lost and alone, living in sin and shame, separated from God, with nothing but misery and death to look forward to.
But the Good Shepherd searched for us found us, picked us up, carried back home where we belong, nurtured and cared for us. We are returned to the shepherd of our souls. That is the promise. We have been graciously and wonderfully found and safely returned home to the flock of the Good Shepherd, to the family of God, to the Kingdom of God, to the safe place, to the Presence of God where we enjoy meaning and purpose, and to the home where we belong. This was God’s original design and purpose in creating me in the first place.
The Father planned my rescue and return, the Son carried it out, and Holy Spirit through the gospel makes it real and makes it mine by faith. The promise is fulfilled: I am returned! The return is complete, but there are still times when we are still deceived into thinking we are strayed and lost and God is nowhere near. But the promise is still true: Jesus, the Shepherd, is still looking for us and finding us.
We Re returned to the Shepherd of our soul. The soul is the essence of the self, the unique character and personality of who we are. It is defined as the mind, will, and emotions. And each aspect is being mended, fixed, and made whole as we speak.