I would like to share how a beautiful meadow and the birds that live there, inspired my heart to say of my God, “I want to trust you like the birds.”

We live in a house in the country in the northwest part of Ohio. Our back yard transitions into a gently rolling meadow, which neighbors a fragrant field of alfalfa. It is bordered on the east side by a beautifully established fence row. The meadow is surrounded by lush green growth, and it has become an enchanting oasis of green plants, trees, wild flowers, and grasses.

This meadow has become a teaching tool of the Lord for me.

It is a haven of wildlife, but especially for birds of all kinds. These song birds are a joy to watch and I love listening to them. These resilient little birds arrive in March, which always seems way too early. But nonetheless, they come despite the cold and gale force winds, and snow mixed with rain. They court, mate, build nests and have babies. There are all kinds: yellow finches, orioles, blue jays, woodpeckers, robins, cardinals, and red wing black birds.

Every day they get up early–rain or shine–and they meet the day with no fear, just a chorus of song. They know who they are, they know their mission. I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, I believe they know God. They trust him for each day’s provision for their chicks and for themselves. These steadfast birds sing, rain or shine. They delight in creation and its abundance. These creatures know they need not fear anything and that God will provide.

These song birds have astonishing faith and a fierceness despite their size. If a hawk or buzzard comes near the meadow, they chase down the enemy; sometimes banding together, sometimes alone. They guard the meadow. It is their kingdom, and they make sure to keep out anything that would harm them or their little ones.

I stand before all this beauty, all this faith, and I am simply humbled.

How many times in a day do I godlessly worry about God coming through for me, or for the people I love, or the world that seems to be losing sight of God? These song birds are a living parable for me. They know who is Sovereign, they know that they are loved and provided for. The question God seems to be asking me through these birds is, do you not know that you matter vastly more? So why are you not living that way?

When I come to look out over the meadow I know that God is asking me to trust him like the songbirds.

I know that he longs for me to trust him for my life, for my provision, for my legacy, for my song.

I love the meadow! It is a refuge and it is God’s gift to me, reminding me that if the birds of the air can trust him, I can too!!

I encourage you to take a look around, there are living parables all around us. You will find God when you seek him, and he wants to be found–in the mystery of his creation, in the way children play. These living parables are inviting us to see that all will be well, and all matter of things shall be well if we trust him like the birds!!!!

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13