Go-Go-Go.
Stress-stress-stress.
Do-do-do.
Worry-worry-worry.
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
II Corinthians 9:10
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
One day, after long weeks of crowded time schedules, worry, pressures, people, and everything in general, I sat down to write a Daily Dose of Encouragement. God spoke above all the racket in my life and simply said, “Be still and know that I am God.” So I sat and listened as he reminded me of a lesson I desperately needed to remember.
A yearling squirrel sat no more than 8 feet away as I sat on my front porch writing a Daily Dose of Encouragement. Timidly he approached the corn feeder eyeballing me every step of the way. At first, he only got close enough to nibble on the scattered kernels around the outskirts of the pile. Fearful of his human benefactor he longingly eyed the plentiful pile of corn just beyond his reach.
I sat frozen in place, hoping he’d think I wasn’t even there. But nothing changed. Even in his hunger he continued to sit in doubt. Finally, he inched over to the pile. Slowly, as he saw he could trust my presence, he moved into the full bounty we had put before him. Every once in a while he’d stop, look my way as if to say, “Are you going to hurt me? Did you put this here for me? Can I trust you?”
The more comfortable he became, the more I moved around and let him see my hands at work. I made louder breathing noises, moved my feet, rocked in my chair, and pounded on this keyboard. Finally, he stopped eating and turned his whole body straight toward me. He looked directly into my face and just sat there quietly. It was as if he was saying “thank you”. He sat close for so long that my back began to hurt and my dangling feet fell asleep. As the computer flashed a low battery warning, I eased from my chair and slowly walked into the house. The little one scampered away – filled to the brim on the provision given him.
Sometimes in our well doing we forget to just “be”. Be still and pray…be still and listen for God’s voice. Realize Who He is. Follow what His still small voice whispers in our heart. He is our benefactor – our provider of all good things.
In my time of intense stress, he used a tiny squirrel to say “slow down” – refocus on what is most important. He reminded me Who He is, and not to be anxious, because He will bring peace to our hearts as we take all our burdens to Him in prayer.
Until next time,
Your Traveling Partner,
Brenda
It was only one line, but I executed it well.
A couple of summers ago, I watched a nest of sea turtles hatch. Over one hundred little turtles emerged from the comfort of their sandy fortress and followed their internal compass to the perilous depths of the sea. As each tiny creature wobbled its way to the water’s edge, it was engulfed by the pounding surf, toppled, and pushed back time and again. Eventually, their gritty determination culminated in their desired outcome as they rode the crest of the foamy waves out to sea.