Feeding on Faith

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

I don’t have to check with the weatherman for the forecast. I simply look out my kitchen window and the feeding birds are the best predictor of things to come. My little garden, originally intended for the butterflies, has expanded and is now an oasis to a cardinal couple, a titmouse family, chickadees, finches and the occasional dove. This past week when a storm was brewing, there was a flurry of activity at my house. It was a feeding frenzy. Every little creature, including squirrels had come to eat heartily before hunkering down. The sun was still shining and there was no indication a storm was coming, but the birds knew. God has equipped them with the senses to prepare and protect themselves.

When storm clouds circle over our lives with health, relationship, financial or job concerns, we try to fix things on our own. We lie awake at night trying to figure out a solution. How many times have we been successful when we have relied on our own strength?  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. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26 It is only when we tap into God’s power, feed on his wisdom and love, can we see things with more clarity.  New ideas pop into our heads, people that can help will reach out, our heart changes and our attitude improves. God may not reveal everything to us at once. But, He does have the answer to our situation and if we allow, He will guide us to it. If the answers come too quick, we often want to take credit for it ourselves. But it is when God walks along side of us, over time, teaching us through scripture, through the loving words of those wiser, that we really grow.

Years ago I had a health issue and I prayed for an instant miracle. But that is not what I got. Instead, God walked with me for many years to teach and show me, step by step, what He wanted me to know. This caused me to lean on Him. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 We are still walking together, me leaning on Him, just like my little birds have come to depend on the fruits of my little garden.