In the neighborhood where I live, there are very tall palm trees that are at least four stories high. As I finished walking my pooch Buddy one morning, I heard a sound coming from the very top of one of them. It was a bird rustling around, building a nest or maybe looking for breakfast. I tried to picture what its view would be like from up there.
I thought, if the bird was six inches tall, the top of the tree was about 80 times its height! I got queasy just thinking about what I would feel way up there, but he or she wasn’t giving it a second thought.
Then I imagined the bird saying to me, “Why should I worry? I’ve got wings!”
I loved that thought. It made me think…
As people, we all have big concerns from time to time. It can feel like we’re in a scary place, high off the ground, wondering if there’s a safety net below to catch us if we fall. Some situations are serious, some are uncomfortable but temporary, and some are more imaginary than real because our emotions are powerful – but not always accurate.
In Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV), Jesus Himself asks us these questions:
“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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his (or her) life?”
Luke 12:25 (NKJV) documents a similar statement by Jesus to His disciples:
“…and which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?”
He asks us these questions to teach us an important fact: it’s impossible to change anything in our lives by worrying. We don’t have the power to.* Not the length of our life or any other aspect of it. But He does! So why do we do it? Why are we afraid? If we take a step back and look objectively, we’ll see fear points out that we aren’t fully trusting in God’s care and provision 100% – or that we haven’t put our faith in Him in the first place and need to.
Yes, we live in challenging and uncertain times – something the media is pointing out to us 24/7. Don’t stream constant negativity into your mind by over-watching it. Instead, in any situation, any day, and anywhere, choose faith over fear because God is who He says He is. Your Provider, loving and forever faithful Father, all-powerful Creator, and infinitely more!
Like the birds you will see flying today, using their wings without fear of falling, let’s remember that God is in control and He sees us. Let’s pray and trust Him and see how HE provides!
RESET HIGHER: Do you have worries today? Can you see that worry isn’t the answer – unless your goal is to be miserable! What can you turn over to God today and trust Him with? You can also open the Bible and read the Gospel of Matthew or Luke for more comfort, wisdom, and strength.
P.S. I wrote a note about this in my journal on September 3, 2020, before the idea for Reset Higher even “hatched.“ It was right as the pandemic was gaining scary momentum and an easy time for all of us to be truly fearful for our lives, not knowing how it would play out. I believe God sent this comforting reminder that HE will provide His wings of care, no matter WHAT happened then, happens today, or in the future. As it says in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
* Fun Fact: The battery in my tablet died just as I finished typing that sentence. Another reminder that got my attention!
