Jesus said, “Don’t worry about your life … Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” — Matthew 6:25-26 (CEB)
I love pelicans, not for their beauty but for their grace. Watching them glide through the sky calms my soul. Lately, my soul has needed calming. I have been diligently searching for work, but I have met rejection at every turn. Despite my constant pleading prayers, God has remained silent.
One day I was sitting on the beach praying as I watched the turquoise waves roll onto the shore. I saw a pelican soaring through the sky, and as I watched it searching the waves for fish, I pleaded with God again to show me what I should do with my life. As the bird soared above the water keeping watch for its next meal, it spotted a fish and immediately dove in to catch it. Then the pelican emerged from the water and floated atop the gentle waves as it enjoyed its dinner.
As I watched the pelican, my heart recognized God’s message: Trust me. I am taking care of you. It was a balm for my weary soul. As God provides for the pelican, so God provides for me.
Today’s Prayer: Source of all we have and are, help us to trust You will provide for us and to be courageous enough to dive in when new opportunities come along. Amen.
Today’s reflection is by Pamela Hutto as it appeared in The Upper Room, a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual life of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. From its beginnings in 1935 as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. This material is copyrighted by The Upper Room, Inc., P. O. Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004, copyright (Aug. 25, 2019) and is used by permission of the publisher.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: You may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not falling down, but staying down. — Mary Pickford
The Light 