I have a good friend who has worked at McDonald’s for over 25 years. Each time I drop by his location we always have a few words of greeting and encouragement for each other. On this particular occasion, things were not running smoothly for him, and he shared how even through the night he worried about how things were going.
I took him to Matthew 6 and reminded him about Jesus’ teaching on worry. Jesus directed the people to look at the birds. “They do not sow, reap, or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. And you are more valuable to me than they are. Look at the lilies of the field. Look at the splendor of their clothes. Will I not much more clothe you?”
That simple message began to resonate with my friend as tears of reassurance welled up in his eyes as he nodded in agreement. “Keep looking at the birds” I repeated. “Think how God cares for them …and you are more valuable to Him than they are.” He walked off to his duties with a fresh smile on his face. Virtually every time I see him his first words to me are… “I’m still looking at the birds Glen!”
In a Nazi prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer consoled himself with the knowledge that God knew all about him. And regardless of how dismal things looked, he anchored himself in God’s promise never to forsake him.
The Psalmist wrote, “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. …Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:1-3; 7-10)
Possibly it’s time again that you “look at the birds” and remind yourself of God’s never-ending presence and care for you. To sing in worship... "All my life You have been faithful. And all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. ...Oh I will sing of the goodness of God." (J&B Johnson)
“For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Be blessed my friend.
Glen (Pitts)
The Barnabas Group / Loads of Love
