Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matt. 6:26)
IT WAS A WARM March morning when he appeared outside my office window. A soft chirp caught my attention as I was writing. A black capped chickadee was feverishly stealing cotton from a maple syrup can my wife had placed on a patio table for decoration. He hopped from one boll to another, stuffing cotton in his beak between chirps. Occasionally, he would pause and glance my way as if to say, “Take note, God provides for the nest I’m building.”
We placed the cotton on our porch never imagining God would use it to care for a bird. God nurtures His creation but often uses us as part of the process. Nests require trees. God grows them. Animals need food. God prompts me to buy feeders and fill them with seed. Water is necessary, so God stimulates me to buy a bird bath and fill it with water.
But knowing God cares for animals doesn’t necessarily comfort me. I need to know He’ll do the same for me. And He will. When Job was worried, God in essence told him, “Quit worrying. I’ve got things under control.” Jesus finished the above verse with, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” And we are. So when you’re overcome with worry and anxiety, take time to listen to God through a bird.
When the cares of this life overwhelm you, let God’s promise of provision overwhelm them.
Martin W. Wiles is a preacher’s kid and author who understands believers’ struggles. He resides in Hodges, South Carolina.
