Lesson From the Birds

Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If the yield of the olive fails, And the fields produce no food, Even if the flock disappears from the fold, And there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will triumph in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like deer’s feet, And has me walk on my high places. —Habakkuk 3:17–19, NASB

I dragged myself out to walk in my neighborhood one morning; my head hung low and my shoulders were burdened by all my problems.

When I heard a buzzing sound, I looked up and saw a flock of white egrets burrowing their beaks on my neighbor’s lawn. I paused and watched them intently, wondering what they had found to eat. I remembered God’s promise, “Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?” (Matthew 6:26, NASB).

My heart filled with joy at being reminded again that I can trust God with all my problems. He has told me that I am worth more to Him than the birds, and look how He provides for them! I felt secure in Him once again. Whenever I wonder about my situation in life, God, in His providence, sends something to remind me He has my best interests at heart. He is my Father. What concerns me concerns Him. I simply need to continue to pray, trust, and obey. When the answers do not come as quickly as we think they should, let us challenge ourselves not to become discouraged, angry, or anxious. Remember how long Joseph prayed for deliverance? How long he waited? But through it all, he trusted God. Sometimes our prayers are answered immediately. Other times, like Joseph, we must wait a long time for the answer to our prayers. We live in changing times, but God has not changed. He is the same, always and forever.

So, even when the fig tree does not blossom and there are no grapes on the vine, let us continue to trust God and praise Him in the good times and the bad.

Heavenly Father, our struggles are very real.

Please teach us to trust You and to hold on to Your unchanging love, no matter what situation we face. Amen.

Cornelia Estrella Sewer