Have you ever felt like God has left? It seems He has deserted you just when you needed him most. You've called and there was no reply, you've given him your "Wish List" and there was no answer, or maybe the answer wasn't the one you wanted or it didn't come fast enough. So what do you do? I know what I do. I strike out on my own, thinking I can handle the situation myself and find my own answer. In Christ, there is freedom, I tell myself. You are pretty wise. Fly by yourself. You don't have to wait. So I take off, sure I can do it on my own. I soar along pretty good for a time, then, suddenly, I realize I am in trouble. I can not find my way. Oh, where is God? He knows I am in trouble, and I need his help. If I could just see him or hear him. Oh God, please help me!
All these things were going on inside me one day when suddenly God showed up. He took a very simple physical picture and showed me a very real spiritual truth. He reminded me of a day this spring and a little episode with some baby birds. I was sitting in my living room when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw two little birds flutter by my living room window. Thinking it must be Humphrey and Hummah Birdgart, my favorite pair of humming birds, coming in to get a little afternoon snack, I got up to watch them feed. After walking over to the window and looking for them, I realized it wasn't my pair of humming birds. It was a pair of the most beautiful baby cardinals I'd ever seen. They were so beautiful, so perfect, yet so tiny. They were having a time flying around and around inside my porch. Suddenly, one flew under the eaves and was gone back to where he had come.
The one bird that was left flew around another time or two, then realizing he was alone, he began to panic. He didn't see the direction his partner flew. From where I was, I could see the panic and fear on this tiny creature. I could see his heart beating through his little feathered chest. I knew this tiny baby was in trouble. I was not sure what to do, but I wanted to help him. He began flying around erratically. He flew into everything. He couldn't figure out how to fly below the eaves of the porch and be free. He was getting more and more frightened. I was sure he would hurt himself or, worse, . He never made a sound, nor did he ever slow down. He flew into the windows, doors, and the light fixture, never once stopping to listen or find direction.
Wanting desperately to help but not knowing how, I headed for the front door. About that time, I saw the most beautiful sight. It was a beautiful Red Cardinal. It was his father. I thought that strange-not the mother, but the father. I waited to see if he was going to fly under the porch and rescue the baby, but he did not. He flew to a nearby pine tree and began to call the baby bird. I could see him and hear him, but for some reason, the baby could not see nor hear him. I thought, if that bird could just see or hear him he would be okay. I opened the door and walked out on the porch. I gently and quietly began to talk to the bird. He began to slow down and stop flying into things. He was listening to me even though I knew he didn't trust me, but I just kept talking. Finally he stopped flying and landed on a wrought iron porch post. He was staring at me with fear in his eyes, and I could see his heart pounding. I suddenly was filled with compassion and tears for this little creature who was so lost and frightened. I could almost touch him now. He was less than an inch from my fingers. Then it was as clear as a bell. I heard it, and I knew he heard it, too. It was his father calling. He turned his head to listen, and there he was. The baby bird flew straight to his father who was still patiently calling and waiting in a nearby pine tree. The two babies and their father sat on the limb and rested together for awhile. Their first solo flight had been long and frightening.
God began to show me how as Christians we do the same thing. We sometimes fly out of the nest, test our wings and our freedom, and fly back to the Father, never losing sight or direction. Other times, we become like the second baby bird; we get so caught up in the world around us, we loose all sight and direction.
What do we do if we find ourselves like the second baby bird? Psalms 46:10 says: Be still and know that I am God... Well I know that to be true, but I still wasn't quit sure if that was enough for me to understand what God meant. God began to show me how the bird was created with a sense of direction, just as a saved person has a built-in direction called the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we get so confused and are so busy doing our own thing, that we can't hear what the Spirit is saying. The Lord showed me how I was doing for the bird what the Spirit does for me. I was shooing it away from dangerous objects that looked exciting and was trying to help him focus his attention on his father. Once the bird stopped flying and rested, he could hear his father's call. He looked in the direction of the sound and there was his father waiting. He immediately flew to his father. God knows that we being babies sometimes need more than a call. We need to see his face and feel his presence.
The most important thing God showed me with the birds was even though the baby lost sight of the father, the father never lost sight of the baby. He had been there all the time waiting patiently and calling the baby to him. He could have flown in and rescued the baby and guided him out, but he chose not to do that. He knew the baby needed to learn to listen and trust him. The father knew the baby had inside him all he needed to make a safe journey. Just as our Heavenly Father knows, we have in us what we need to handle situations and troubles.
So take heart, the next time you get all caught up and loose direction and sight of the Father, stop, listen and wait for guidance. God is near you all the time, even when you can't see him or hear him. He will send you someone to help you avoid danger and guide you back to safety and rest.
-By Kate Fuqua