A Path Among the Rocks

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

We’re in the middle of a snow storm here.  The snow is falling and the wind is blowing.  “It isn’t a fit night out for man nor beast” as Yukon Cornelius would say.  And he’s right.  These are the days (and nights) where you are better off to be somewhere inside, tucked away and safe from the storm and all that comes with it. 

Some storms you can prepare for and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last few days.  You see, our house is old and a bit drafty, especially around the windows.  Not as drafty as the house I grew up in, but enough so that I usually add some additional window coverings to keep out the bitter cold when we have storms like this. 

I was checking our windows yesterday to be sure that we were as bundled up as possible while the storm was raging outside, and as I was making my way upstairs to my bedroom windows, I heard the most beautiful song.  A bird, perched on my window sill, in the freezing, blowing snow and wind, was singing.  And not just singing—singing loudly.  So much so that I could hear it even over the wind as soon as I stepped into the room. 

I was amazed.  How could this little bird, sitting on the freezing bricks of my windowsill in the middle of this storm, have the ability or the desire to sing?

I thought about our verse above and the example of the birds that Jesus gave us to teach us not to worry.  From the verse we learn that we shouldn’t worry about the necessities of life because our Heavenly Father knows we need them.  If I’m honest, I’m sure that I think about these birds as fair weather birds in the parable.  While the sun is shining, it’s easy for them to find what they need, and sing. 

But the storm outside my window brings with it a bitter cold, and terrible conditions.  And still she sings? How can this be?  It was hard for me to fathom her ability to sing when she was taking a beating from the storm.

Perhaps this finds you today and you’re in a storm as well.  Perhaps not the type that involves, rain, sleet, snow or wind, but perhaps it’s something else.  Something bigger than you.  A diagnosis.  A relationship gone cold.  The loss of a job.  A child or loved one that hasn’t found their prodigal shoes yet. A loved one taken and all you have left is a mountain sized hole in your soul.  So many things and situations that overwhelm us.  Each one a storm with their own devastating and frightening elements. 

Perhaps your storm is just too much.  Perhaps you don’t have the strength to sing in the midst of the storm like my little bird and it’s all you can do to just survive in it. 

While I wish for it desperately, I don’t have earthly answers for you – I don’t have explanations that can explain why this is happening or has happened to you.  Some storms are just too big.  Sometimes, there are no answers that one person can give to another that explains or adds the context that you so desperately need to make it all make sense. 

But what I do have, I give it to you.  And that’s Jesus. 

I can’t logically explain why knowing Jesus, and accepting Him into your heart in the midst of your storm will make you feel better, but it will.  Jesus gives us a love that is so consuming and strong that it goes beyond our ability to understand it.  And with that love, He brings quiet strength to endure.  Faith to believe the impossible.  Assurance that you are not alone.  Rest, even in the storm. 

My heart goes out to you.  My prayers go with you.  Jesus stands with you.  To shelter and protect you—even in the storm. 

So, don’t worry about trying to sing in your storm.  Jesus will be singing over you.  Above the storm. 

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Father, give my friends the ears to hear You today. The song that You sing over them in their storm. There is no refuge, security, protection or warmth that is greater than under Your wing. Will you lead us there today? We can’t see through the fierceness of this storm we’re in. Help us, Father. We love you. Thank you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Promise:  Hebrews 7:25 – Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Promise: Psalm 18:6; 16 – But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.

Promise:  2 Timohy 2:4 – But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.  So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.