Endurance for the Journey, Featured, Provision

Lessons From A Hummingbird

Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
Sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
Singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
How blessed they are to live and sing there!
PSALM 84:3-4 (THE MESSAGE)


Over the past month, I have been observing a Hummingbird build its nest in our backyard Madagascar Palm tree where Jan and I sit enjoying our morning coffee and time with God. The Madagascar Palm has very sharp cactus like spines on its trunk. Watching her build her nest was amazing! She actually built her nest among and on the sharp spines to support and strengthen her nest!


As I‘ve watched this unbelievable miracle of nature – the amazing work of God’s hand, I was reminded of the passage in Scripture where Jesus says,


“Look at the birds, free and unfettered,
Not tied down to a job description,
Careless in the care of God.
And you count far more to him than birds!”
MATTHEW 6:26 (THE MESSAGE)


Did you hear that? We count far more to God than the birds! Watching this serves as a reminder to me – especially when I find myself worrying and struggling with my life issues and the uncertainty of the future. I can trust God to take care of me just as He cares for the Hummingbird providing all that was needed to build that little nest and the food she will provide when her little babies hatch!


How much more will He provide for you and me! It may not be what we asked for but it will always be what we need. We can be anxious for nothing! We can even be assured that sometimes the sharp spines that we unwillingly experience in our lives can provide us with a foundation of strength upon which we can build our future – just as the sharp spines provided a foundation of strength for the Hummingbird’s nest!


Father, thank you for bringing this little Hummingbird into our lives! Thank you for your reality, initiative and provision!

“Steep your life in God-reality, God initiative, God-provisions.
Don’t worry about missing out.
You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,
And don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.
God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up
when the time comes.”
MATTHEW 6:33-34 (THE MESSAGE)


On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky