But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Today in the midst of uncertainty and fear of a virus we can not see I choose to have hope. I’m sitting in “my spot” this morning. The same deck step I sit on every morning to drink my coffee. It’s where I choose to start my day, talking with God, watching the birds in their morning routine, it’s where I ask God to hold my children through the uncertainties and dangers of life, it’s the very place I ask God to sustain my husband in his job and work responsibilities, it’s where I give my day, myself and my actions to Him each day.
There are some mornings like today that I sit in the midst of confusion in the world. In this time of COVID-19 the world is fighting a virus that we know little about. The enemy is real and we must be ready to fight. I take comfort in that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This virus will get closer and my trust in Him must deepen as we trek through the unknowns.
We are so blessed in this nation. Very rarely do we have a need or a want, even the poorest of us, that there isn’t someone to fill that need in our lives. It’s amazing to me that during the beginning stages of this pandemic, first we panic, then we complain, then we decide we better buckle down and figure out how to fight. I will admit during our first week of social distancing, I loved it. I remarked that “the world has been given a gift” when they were told they should stay home with their children and enjoy their families, their homes, quality time together, walks through the neighborhood, conversations over the fence (at a 6 foot distance) with their neighbors, games at night, swimming, barbecuing in their backyard… And so much more. Families were told that teachers would be sending lessons and parents could school their children themselves in their homes… Wow the world was told to live my life! And I was given freedom to not leave the house for anything! But the reality is that life must go on in some form and fashion we must find our new normal, but in the midst, God is gently and quietly reminding us that he has not changed. He is still there, the strong tower of strength, the same God that desires to meet our every need, the same God that sent his son to die on the cross to save this world. He sees us, he hears us, and he is waiting for us to run to him for our strength.
As I sit on the steps this morning I am watching a Carolina Wren flying back-and-forth from my neighbors yard to mine. My neighbor asked yesterday if I had found the nest, we both know it exists in either her yard or mine. I told her I had gone searching for where the bird kept flying to, but I still have not located it. I told her I thought it had a nest under my boys fort where they store their bicycles, but I had gone in and there was no evidence of a nest. This morning I watched that sweet mama fly to the back of the firth one too many times, and determined I was going to find that nest.
If you know me you know God uses birds to teach me lessons. I love the diligence of birds, so small yet so strong.
And so I opened the door to the under storage of the boys fort where they store their bikes. It was quite noisy all around me, the dog was completing her morning backyard investigation, the bunnies were hopping on and off their boxes and throwing sticks around, and our new ducklings were making quite the racket… But I listened amidst all the noise. I stood very still and listened.
Soon I heard the faint chirping of baby birds. I moved in the direction of which the noise came to discover that momma wren had built a nest in the very small cupholder of my middle daughter‘s bike. I peered in and saw four, maybe five eager little beaks waiting for their morning breakfast.
You might wonder why this is significant at all? But here’s the deal God is still the same yesterday today and forever. And his creation is still moving, the birds are still building nests, mama wrens are still feeding their baby birds, the oak trees in Florida are in full out bright green bloom, flowers are pushing up from the ground and meeting the sunshine in an array of brilliant color, although our world is turned upside down it is as if God is screaming in His still calm voice, I am here! I love you, I will hold you, I WILL sustain you!
As we walk through these days ahead, I choose God and His power. I will heed warnings and will do what needs to be done to keep my family and loved ones safe. But I will do so with the Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Continuing to trust my God in uncertain times knowing full well he will sustain.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
