This Spring, we created a bird sanctuary at the farm. In a small section of the side yard, several different types of feeders hang with varieties of seeds. Between the pasture and the lawn, particular birdhouses sit on fence posts. In the mornings, my husband and I enjoy watching our birds as we savor a cup of coffee.
What absolutely astonishes me is that it actually worked—the birds came! Prior to hanging the feeders and mounting the houses, we rarely saw a goldfinch. Now there are brightly colored birds everywhere all the time! Male and female goldfinches, Baltimore orioles, purple finches, blue jays, bluebirds, red-headed woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, catbirds, robins, sparrows… the list goes on. They all hang out on the farm now.
What amazes me even more than the fact that the birds actually showed up (like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams), is that these creatures know exactly what they were created for. The goldfinches visit their specific feeder which is filled with their unique treat. The bluebirds have already nested in the box that is distinctly designed for their kind. Our sparrows aren’t even attempting to roost in the bluebird house - that’s not what they were created for.
Nature has a magnificent way of revealing spiritual truths. Each bird is drawn to and satisfied by something uniquely determined by their Creator. They know instinctively what they need to flourish.
The same is true for you and for me. God has created us for Himself, and our souls will only ever find deep and lasting satisfaction in Him. In our heads, we may know this, but our fickle hearts seek fulfillment elsewhere. We look to a relationship—maybe it’s a friend or a child or spouse—to make us feel loved and valued. We rely on our jobs to give us identity and purpose. We seek food, alcohol, or sex to numb the pain or escape the hurt. We lean on our service and performance to make us feel worthy or needed.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Sisters, none of those things will ever satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. They weren't designed to do that, and they cannot.
What’s more—you were not designed for them! You were made for Him. Like the birds, you have a unique longing in the depth of your soul that the Creator has determined to satisfy exclusively with Himself. Only in Jesus will you find the rest and joy your soul desperately craves. He alone brings flourishing.
So, where are you placing your hope for satisfaction today? To what are you looking for joy and fulfillment? Today is a new day. Confess your unbelief and run to Him. Let Him satisfy you to overflowing.
PRAYER
Father, how often I run to other things to fill my soul. I doubt Your goodness and love. My faith is weak. My heart chases idols. Forgive me, Lord. Give me the grace to trust You. Let the floodgates of Your perfect love wash over me today. I love You, help me love You more.
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” St. Augustine of Hippo
Adapted from Judie Puckett, Grace Enjoyed: Delighting in Our God in the Ordinary Moments of Life (Storied Publishing, 2023).