Recently while looking out my bedroom window, my attention was drawn to the bird spikes in the eaves. I had noticed them before, at other places, they’re those spikey things over the lettering outside of stores. Their job is to prevent birds from nesting. If a bird flies into the eaves on our balcony or on top of the store sign, the spikes will poke her, causing her to look elsewhere to build a nest.
I can relate to feeling poked. This year we were forced to move out of our nest, a spacious, comfortable home. We’ve had to rely on the benevolence of others and deal with the stress of unemployment. I didn’t like being poked, but it’s as if God had forced me out of my comfort zone – saying, “Don’t nest here.”
Like a good parent, it is often God’s desire to use the problems and difficulties of life to teach and change us. Every child growing up needs boundaries – they want to know what they can or can’t do. This helps them to feel secure, even if they balk at the discipline. Perhaps it is the same way with God, he allows hardship so we learn to rely upon him. He is a good father, seeking to lead us down his path to a better nesting place.
Has God allowed bird spikes in your life? Maybe you’ve lost your home, a job or a relationship. Instead of complaining or cursing the spikes we can ask God what he is teaching us. We can tell him we don’t like it, but ask him to show us what purpose and meaning we can derive from it. We can learn to trust him to be a good parent, working all things for our ultimate good.
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4 comments:
Believe it or not, I have been following your journey this past year, mostly through facebook (and sometimes through your blog and notes). I appreciate your sharing your life and your godly perspective through a trying time. We've almost had to move last year from a spacious house to a tiny apartment here in HK. I guess God's command to Abraham takes on special meaning for those of us who have been driven out of our comfort zone to "nest elsewhere".
"Also" not "almost" -- sorry, can't type.
Helen, this is a publishable devotion. Bible verse goes at the top, your lesson, then a prayer at the bottom, and submit. :) What a great attitude.
Karen (this has to go under anonymous because stupid blogspot doesn't accept my password any more.)
Helen, thanks for your comment. Yes, Abraham's command indeed takes on a special meaning - God has bigger plans, doesn't he? Thanks for reading my blog.
Karen, coming from a Writer, I so appreciate your comment. I have written a lot of devotionals, where would I send them.
I had to laugh at the ad at the bottom of my blog. It said "Need to get rid of Pigeons?" lol
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