God cares for the birds…He gave me a sign!

I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember. My belief is strong and deep.  Yet when unexpectedly faced with uncertainty in my career future, my mind turns to worry.  What about insurance, what about the plans we have, what about this and that?  My faith is there, but I can easily let fear creep in.  I haven’t asked for a sign that He has my future in His hands, but today He gave me one.

After a week of emotions, I turn to my meditation, quiet time, and reading in the quiet of our home.  My husband had left to help with ministry opportunity and this gave me a moment before the weekend got started to read, reflect, contemplate, and pray.  I enjoy the peace of our temporary basement living with the sun coming into the one large window and the birds singing just outside.

As I read and enjoyed this special time before the busyness of a wedding shower weekend for my daughter, I hear what sounds like a person upstairs rifling around, as if they are frantically looking for something. Our dog starts barking as if it is most obviously an intruder.

Typically, I would have frozen in fear.  But this time, I calmly walked upstairs to find a bird, flying to every wall, beam, and window trying to escape.  I began talking to the bird, telling him if he would let me, I could help him.  I could let him go, out into the world, back where he belongs.

He flew fast, crossing the room, landing in various places, until he stopped on a beam within reach.  Given the house is in a state of renovation, there was a board just the right length for me to use to stretch up to the birdie as a perch.  I coaxed him on and he allowed me to gently lower him to the floor. 

He sat there.  He wasn’t afraid of me.  It was as if he knew me.  I didn’t want to shew him out of the house and frighten him.  I wanted to launch him back into the world gently.  But should I pick him up?  I was always told not to touch birds! He continued to sit, just looking at me as if to say, “it’s ok” and “I trust you”.

I gently picked him up, carried him out to the porch, and placed him on the ledge.  He was not afraid.  I told him he was ok, and that when he was ready, he could fly off to be with his friends, where God wanted him to be.

That is exactly what he did!  With confidence and strength, he flew up and around, then landing in a tree.

How can I question God’s love and care for me, for us?  How can I question the fact that He has a plan for me?

I’ve only asked Him for a sign once in my life, to show me that I am safe, and to show me that I should let go and let Him take control.  He gave me a clear sign then and answered that prayer!

I didn’t ask for a sign this time, but He gave me one.  A very clear and obvious one.  The bird wasn’t an intruder, but a messenger.  Because as I came back to my quiet time, I came to Matthew 6.  What more can I say?  I sobbed, for the first time all week.  Because God is so amazingly good!

Matthew 6:26-34 New Life Version (NLV)

²⁶ Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds? ²⁷ Which of you can make himself a little taller by worrying? ²⁸ Why should you worry about clothes? Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. ²⁹ But I tell you that Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. ³⁰ God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith! ³¹ Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ ³² The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things. ³³ First of all, look for the holy nation of God. Be right with Him. All these other things will be given to you also. ³⁴ Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.