Recently on quiet summer mornings as I walked our country valley road, I was aware of sounds made by creatures and machines that I could not see. I heard engine noises from jets and propeller-driven aircraft. Truck and car tires hummed, and horseshoes clip-clopped on pavement out of sight on the other side of the hilltops. Mostly, I heard birds chirp, tweet, trill, warble, whistle, coo, and caw.

One time as I paid close attention to the birds, I asked the Lord in prayer to whisper something into my heart. This is what I heard:

Matthew 28:20b – And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (NIV)

This was Jesus' promise to His disciples when they would no longer be able to see Him.

Since the quiet morning walk when I heard this promise, the reassuring truth of Jesus' last words to His people has echoed over and over in memory as I listen to birds and a multitude of other things that I hear but cannot see.

These experiences remind me of Hebrews 11:1 – "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (NKJV), or as Eugene Peterson puts it, "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see." (MSG)

What could remind you to trust God's love and presence?

Prayer: Father in heaven, we give thanks for our senses. Abba, we ask in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ the Lord, keep us alert to Your presence with and kindness for us. Amen.

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About the author:

Pat Bell <llebpat@gmail.com>
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
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