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Isaiah 55:8 – "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (NIV)
Recently, I wrote a devotional about how concerned I had been about a little black squirrel sitting alone all day on a bare branch in the drizzling rain. I couldn't get it out of my mind, and I kept wondering why its mate had deserted him, or worse still, wondering if she had been killed by some animal. I finally came to the conclusion that I had to quit thinking about it. Since it had impacted me so strongly, however, I wondered if God possibly wanted to teach me something through it all.
Given my deep love for nature, I tend to anthropomorphize a great deal; that is, I attribute human qualities to animals. Sometimes, it can create a problem. It is then that I must remember that God cares for all of His creatures and knows what He's about. I realize that many of the questions that we have about life will have to remain unanswered until He is ready to give an explanation. In this instance, He graciously did.
A few weeks had passed by very quickly since that occurrence, and I had finally put the squirrel situation out of my mind. Then, suddenly the missing squirrel was back, and now there were three.
The third one was much smaller, and it was obviously a baby. Mother had evidently been very busy. Now, it was her job to teach the new addition everything a squirrel needs to know about life. Soon, they were all tearing around busily scrounging for food. I could quit fussing and thank God for His patience with me. There was only one drawback to my happiness: my lawn was more littered than ever with peanut shells!
So once again came my usual question, What did all this fussing teach me?
May I share it with you, dear reader, and ask you to consider His answer along with me?
To begin with, it was a matter of trusting the Scripture that tells me, "As for God, his way is perfect" (2 Samuel 22:31a NIV). If our minds are constantly open to the whispers of His Holy Spirit, instead of forever asking "Why?" we will be greatly blessed as we obey His leadings. It seems like such a simple conclusion, yet it is one of the most profound truths that we will ever learn.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to be still and know that You are God. Help us to remember that You have a perfect plan for our lives. Help us to listen carefully, then to say "Yes" to Your will when You speak to us from Your holy Word. Help us to trust You enough to do what we have heard through Christ in us. Amen.
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Good to hear from you.
Thanks for sharing Sharon.
Thanks for catching us up on the tale Sharon!
Good one Sharon.
Thank you.
Thanks for this lesson, Sharon. Even when it is easy to understand, it is so difficult to live out. As a comedian ventriloquist from the past used to say, “Easy to say — difficult to do.”
Blessings.
Thank you for this devotional, Sharon. I needed to read it today as I had a scan…and have been praying and worrying. I won’t have the results until Monday but your words reminded me of something I do know…but needed the reminder…our worrying is not helpful for Our Heavenly Father has everything well in hand.
Do continue to write!
Thank you for these thoughts. I too often think of the small animals that visit my balcony daily, as being like humans. Maybe it is God’s way of making us more aware of our need to see people as God’s creatures. Thus making us behave more gently towards all His creation, with the care that we give to our wee creatures. God bless you for sharing these thoughts and wisdom with us.
Dear Sharon:
Thanks so much for the update on your squirrels. I too do the same thing regarding animals. Absolutely love them!
I agree with what you learned from God. Trust in the Lord always and in all things, He knows what He’s doing!
With much love (for I dearly love to read your devotions).
Hello Sharon,
Thank you for sharing God’s whispering to you about and through your black squirrels. God can speak to us in the big events of our lives, but as you attest – and as Elijah did on the mountain – also in the small ones. We/I need the reminding to prepare our own hearts to hear what He has to say. This morning as I thought of some of the issues I have to deal with, came the small whisper, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him an He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6) And then your devotional spoke to me as another encouragement, that my role is to be faithful. He certainly is. Thank you again for this, and for your many devotionals!
Sharon, I really enjoyed this devotional as I could relate to your experience. I share your fascination with animals and nature. It’s amazing how often God uses them to speak to us!
Have a blessed weekend.
Keep writing!
Dear Sharon,
Thanks for the devotional.
I also think that asking why is often good because the answers to why get us deeper into the meanings in God’s Word and world.
But when we have already been given the reason, we should go ahead and obey. Also we must obey the Word of God even when our peanut brains haven’t seen why.
Blessings. I wrote to you about the squirrel, got a chuckle today when I read this. Why do we see things in the negative first (sad lonely squirrel sitting in rain) but really was the diligent caring mate protecting the home while mom took care of the task at hand! Once again lessons to be learned. Continued blessings.