WE SERVE A LOVING AND PERSONAL GOD who wants us to know that we can trust Him.
In the last issue I wrote about a time when God seemed to show me the same Bible text over and over in various ways: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NIV).
About a year later I had forgotten the text and was back to my old habits of stress and anxiety. I felt overwhelmed coordinating meetings, retreats, and speaking appointments.
At a women’s ministries leadership meeting I was coordinating, the devotional speaker talked about resting in Jesus. Comparing a feather to our relationship with Him, she dropped the feather and we watched as it floated gently to the floor. “This is how we need to rest with Jesus in all of our stresses, problems, and trials,” she said.
Suddenly, I just relaxed and took a deep breath. I prayed silently, “Lord, I know You are speaking to me again. Please help me to rest in You just like a feather that gently floats to the ground.”
Since then, God has reminded me through feathers to trust Him. Sometimes when I’m walking and praying about a need or a situation that troubles me, I’ll suddenly see a
feather on the ground and sense Jesus’ presence. It’s like He’s saying, “I’ve got this. Trust Me.” And I’m not looking for feathers. When I try to look for them, I never find any.
One time I was so discouraged that I wanted to walk away from ministry. Jerry and I were attending a meeting near the ocean. That morning I walked to the beach and found a cove tucked between big rocks. I noticed that the sand there was covered with seagull feathers. It was like a carpet. (No, I didn’t see any dead seagull bodies!) I knew God was telling me to be of good courage; He was in charge and would see me through. A few months later I returned to that cove to see if there were feathers covering the beach, and there were none.
Another time Jerry and I were in India speaking to pastors, elders, and spouses in multiple locations. As our itinerary drew to an end, I got an unexpected request to speak to college students on Friday night and all day Sabbath. I felt exhausted. What would I say to this age-group? Immediately, I became nervous and filled with doubt. I prayed off and on through the night.
When our meetings were over, we gathered outside for a picture. Suddenly I had an impulse to look at the ground, and there was a feather. God had blessed what He had me share.
I know you’re probably thinking, Of course you find feathers outdoors. Yes, you can rationalize it away. But I have learned that from big things to small, He cares about everything in our lives.