When Birds Sing at Sunrise
April 3, 2020
It’s 3:34am and I’m finding myself wide awake and unable to get back to sleep. Was it something I ate? Too much Netflix binging? Stress? Worry? Fret? I couldn’t pinpoint one specific thing and then the battle to go back to bed began! I wrestled back and forth…tossing and turning…and no luck. Finally, I resolve to just looking up at the ceiling and counting sheep, until it dawns on me: I should pray.
As I quieted myself (as if the environment weren’t quiet enough at now 5:00am), I begin to open up my heart and started reflecting. You see, from the outside looking in, my life had seemingly been turned upside down. Due to this COVID-19 pandemic that our nation was now currently facing, I was set to be furloughed from my job until further notice. Facing this novel situation brought on some anxiety undeniably, but I ultimately knew that I had to place this in God’s hands-trusting Him entirely. But the reality is, sometimes it takes your humanity to “catch up” with your spirituality; I wish it weren’t that way at times -but it is. So here I am, having carved out a solo life out here in Seattle, with ambitions on furthering my professional career and working towards opening and building a counseling practice, now facing furlough. What about my sustenance? My dreams? My ambitions? I found myself questioning God saying, “You answered my prayers and brought me here; a city I fell in love with years ago (I love Portland more, but thats beside the point!) and now what am I supposed to do? Its often said where you guide you provide…so now what?”
As day breaks and I peer out the window to see the sunrise, I start to hear the birds chirping. A smile sweeps across my face and I just listen to them engaging in song. All of a sudden, this scripture comes to mind:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they?”
~Matthew 6:25-26
Oh what a gentle reminder of God saying, “I’ve got you; no need to worry.” There’s no coincidences with God. These birds were just at the right window, in the right tree, at the right time singing His faithfulness over my life! God is so good! I began to thank Him for quieting my soul with that scripture and as I continued to give praise and thanks, another scripture dropped in my spirit, found in Psalm:
“I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.” ~Psalm 50:11
I cry out, “God, I know your speaking to me and reassuring me of your presence and provision! I surrender and submit all unto you and trust that in this season, you will be my provider and sustainer! You are the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills…the God who knows every strand of hair on my head by name. Surely, you will take care of me and believing that you will do so in a fashion that proceeds your reputation!” So with that God, I declare:
“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.”
~Psalm 57:2
So to those sparrows, robins, and finches breaking out in song at sunrise, thank you! For you are God’s instrument…serenading the faithfulness of God over my life!