A couple weeks ago, I was driving along and came upon a bird that
standing in the middle of the road. I
kept on going, assuming it would move, but when I got closer to it, it seemed
to hunker down and brace itself. It sort
of puffed out its chest, pulled its wings in real tight, and waited: anticipating the rush of wind from my passing
car. I passed the bird, swerving a
little so I wouldn’t hit it, and looked back in my rearview mirror. The bird was still standing in the center of
the road. It was obviously hurt or
something was wrong, or else it would have flown away before my car passed
it.
Immediately it came to my
mind what I’ve heard my dad say a million times when preaching…when you’ve done
all you can do and can’t do anymore, just stand. Just like that little bird, rushing winds
pass us by in life: winds that try to blow us here or there. We are already down for the count…something
was said that hurt us, we lost a few steps with the Lord, or whatever else
causes us to feel low. It’s in those
times that we have to just brace ourselves and simply stand. Sure, we’ll feel the rushing wind around us,
and it might rock us a little, but we just have to stand.
I'm not really the avid "bird watcher", but I was so blessed by the
little bird and I’ve thought a lot about it since. During trying times, sure we all pray that we
can walk away or fly, but sometimes the Lord doesn’t answer our prayer that
way. Sometimes He merely provides us
with enough strength just to stand. And in
that moment, it’s enough.
“ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions;
stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…”
2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV
