Steadfastness and Faith
As is often the case, Pastor Ben’s sermon makes me think of a song, and when he spoke about worry this past Sunday, I thought of the hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” This was probably reinforced by the pictures he shared during the sermon. Under each of the eight different birds was a brief description of a trait the bird has in relation to God’s kingdom. He invited us to choose one of the birds and think about its description. I chose the cardinal, and the note under the picture read “Resilience: Even in frigid winter, cardinals will sing, showing steadfastness and faith.”
Hmmm. “Even in the frigid winter….” I would like to think I have steadfastness and faith, but do I really? Especially during the cold, dark days of winter or a storm in my life? Maybe I’m just a fair-weathered Christian who only sings God’s praises when everything is going well. Yet I know I often pray for help in facing a difficult situation. Is praying for help showing steadfastness and faith? I suppose it is if I truly believe that help will come. But what about the worry?
More on that later, let’s get back to the birds.
Frequent visitors to my bird feeder are a family of cardinals. In the early Spring, mom and dad can be seen together. The first indication that they are even around is their song; a confident chirp from mom, a lovely song from dad. Unhurried, unworried, they settle in for a nice meal. A bit later in the season, I start seeing the little ones with their red hues emerging faintly on their wings. They come to the feeder along with mom, who offers instruction from a far above branch.
In the early morning or late in the evening, dad swoops in, clothed in brilliant red feathers. After a bite to eat, he often perches on the highest branch and, cold or warm, overcast or sunny, he begins to sing. What great examples of letting go of worry. The family of cardinals show up each day at the bird feeder, instinctively seeking and finding what they need. They offer a song in return.
The scripture referenced on Sunday was Matthew 6: 25-34. This passage talks about worry, and how birds do not plant food or harvest, but instead are fed by God. The same for the “lilies of the field.” The don’t work or sew their own clothes, yet they are beautifully adorned. The passage concludes with this: “(33) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (34) So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
So, back to worry. In the good times it doesn’t seem so difficult to offer God songs of praise. After all, everything is going fine! But in those not so good times, worry creeps in and starts shaking things up. If left to settle in, worry takes over more and more space in our thoughts and soon blocks out hope, peace and praise. To break out of that cycle of worry, I try to remember an experience when God’s love and promises brought me through a difficulty. I remember his steadfastness and faithfulness and I pray for guidance and reassurance. Then I focus on words of praise and thanksgiving.
Sometimes worries are fleeting, an issue that is resolved quickly or is just an inconvenience. At other times, worry comes from a situation where I feel helpless and hopeless. But no matter the circumstances, I keep reminding myself of God’s faithfulness, praying for guidance and focusing on praising Him. I hope to live more like the cardinal family: seek what I need and offer a song in return.
“His Eye is on the Sparrow”
(Words in the public domain.)
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy—
I sing because I’m free—
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Written by Carol Pitts, April 2025
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