Feathers

We serve a loving and personal God who really wants to have a friendship with us—for us to know that we can trust Him.

In 2020, I wrote an article for another publication about how God, through His Word, would show me the same Bible text over and over in various ways: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”(Rom. 15:13).* 

About a year later I had forgotten the text and was back to my old habits of stress and anxiety. I was overwhelmed with coordinating meetings, retreats, and speaking appointments.

One weekend I attended a Women’s Ministries leadership meeting, and the devotional speaker talked about resting in Jesus. I don’t remember the Bible passage she used, but I do remember the illustration—a feather. As she discussed our relationship with Jesus, she dropped the feather, and we watched as it floated gently to the floor.

“This is how we need to rest with Jesus in all of our stresses, problems, and trials,” she said. Suddenly I just relaxed and took a deep breath. I prayed silently, Lord, I know You are speaking to me again. Please help me to rest in You just like a feather that gently floats to the ground. 

Since then, God has reminded me to trust Him through feathers. I know you probably think I am crazy. Actually, I am. I’m crazy about Jesus!

Sometimes it’s hard to trust Him when tragedy happens or when a situation or relationship seems hopeless. But the more I spend time with Jesus reading the Bible, the more I trust Him with my life.

I have learned He cares about anything, big or small, in our lives.

Finding feathers

It isn’t often that I find a feather. There are times I am walking and praying about a need or a situation that troubles me, and I will look down to see a feather. I take a deep breath as I sense Jesus’ presence and His gift of hope and peace. It’s as though He is saying, “I’ve got this. Trust Me.” Sometimes afterward I’ve recognized the answer to my prayer, but other times I’ve never known the outcome. But I do know God is the solution. 

There was a time I was so discouraged that I wanted to walk away from ministry and sit on the sideline for a while. My husband, Jerry, and I were speaking at a weekend retreat near the ocean. That morning I walked to the beach and found a cove tucked between the rocks. 

The sand was covered with seagull feathers. Yes, sometimes there are a few seagull feathers on the beach, but this was like a carpet. They were so thick I couldn’t see the sand underneath. I didn’t see any dead seagull bodies. The next morning there was not one feather to be seen. Most of my experiences are not so dramatic.

Jerry and I were in India speaking to pastors, elders, and spouses in multiple locations. As our itinerary was coming to an end, I found out there was one more meeting. I was to speak to young people and college students in a big city on Friday night and all day Sabbath. I was exhausted. What would I say to this age group? Immediately I was nervous and filled with doubt. I prayed through the night.

When our meetings were over, we gathered outside for a picture. Suddenly I had an impulse to look at the ground, and there was a feather. God had blessed the meetings, and there was a great response to what God had given me to share.

I know you are probably thinking, Of course you find feathers outdoors! Yes, you can rationalize it all away. But I have learned He cares about anything, big or small, in our lives. 

The Scriptures promise, “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me” (Ps. 139:3-5). “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jer. 33:3).

I’ve come to see that trusting God isn’t about understanding everything—it’s about knowing that He does. So whether I find a single feather or none at all, I can rest in the promise that He is guiding me, loving me, and leading me exactly where I need to be.

*Bible texts are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.