"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Pslam 147:9
I watch as the bird perches aloft a swinging power line, oblivious to the current pulsing through his perch. He raises his beak and sings in the direction of the clouds above, his song more insistent than melodic.
Until I read this verse I might’ve assumed that the raven was calling for his mate or trying to out sing the other birds. But with today’s verse on my mind I wonder if he is not doing what all of God’s creation inherently knows to do: call on their Creator for their needs.
Ravens are pretty plain as birds go. Missing the distinct markings of a bluebird or cardinal and the unique talents of the woodpecker or hummingbird, ravens strike me as being least likely to get God’s attention. And yet, the Psalmist mentions this unremarkable bird in Psalm 147:9. He points out that when they call, God hears them and He provides for them.
Today I feel unremarkable, forgotten, lacking anything special. I feel plain, all black feathers in a forest full of bright plumage. Why would God answer my call? I have nothing to offer in return.
This verse assures me that God doesn’t respond based on who I am or what I have to offer. He responds because I am His, plain and simple. He responds because it is in His nature to provide. My call initiates His response. I must believe that with all my heart and stand on that truth as I wait for that response.
I know that’s easier said than done.
I feel like I have been waiting forever for answered prayers. Sometimes I feel hopeless that my prayers will ever be answered. I feel like I am losing faith that He even hears.
There have been times when I looked into tomorrow and saw blackness as dark as the feathers of a raven. Days when I read a verse like Psalm 147:9, and thought to myself, “Yeah, right. He might answer that bird, but He isn’t answering me.”
And in those times I’ve wondered what I needed to do to get God’s attention. In John 6:28-29 the people ask Jesus what they must do to do the works God requires. They want to please God and they know Jesus holds the key as to how they can do just that. As they wait anxiously for His answer, I imagine they are expecting a laundry list of possibilities, bullet points they can jot down and refer to later.
Instead Jesus tells them that the work of God is simply to believe in the One He has sent. Jesus knew that believing is work. It is heart work. To believe in Jesus even when He seems far away or unresponsive is some of the hardest work we will have to do as we follow Him. But that is all what He asks us to do.
The ravens know that He always provides and they sing with confidence in that, no matter what their circumstances are. Oh how I want to do the same in my life.
Father God, today I am going to keep singing and trust that You will answer my call because I believe You love me and want the best for me. I am going to do the work that You require and trust Your provision. Even though satan is throwing some awful firery darts at me threatening to knock me back a step trying to knock me down.... I KNOW that I have to silence that voice and listen to yours that calls my hearts. I know that you hear my prayers, and I know that you will answer them in your time. I just need some strength... because I feel my knees wobbling tonight and I want to be strong to wait on you...
0 comments:
Post a Comment