A Birdseye View

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

I gazed at the magnificent creature before me. Huge talons, sharp, curved beak, the characteristic white head. I have seen bald eagles in the zoo but not out in the open and certainly not a few feet away.

While I marveled at the size and beauty of this bird, a little mockingbird darted disturbingly close to the eagle. I couldn’t believe the audacity of the tiny bird! Doesn’t it know that it doesn’t stand a chance against the eagle? The little bird persisted in flitting close and nipping its monumental counterpart.

Despite the pesky mockingbird, the majestic eagle sat virtually unaffected by its presence. Occasionally the eagle would snap at the bird if it got too close. But largely it just sat on the limb in peace as it had before the arrival of the pest.

I long to be like that eagle! Many annoyances threaten to invade my peace daily. When I focus on these things, I can easily become unsettled. How am I going to get everything done in time? Why isn’t this working?

I am also tempted to blow things out of proportion. I’ll never be able to do this! This problem is too big! The mockingbird is no match for the eagle; our problems are no match for Jesus.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

Like the eagle, we don’t have to get flustered, fearful, or overwhelmed when things don’t go as planned. We may not know why these annoyances come our way or how things are going to work out - but we do know our Savior! He stands ready and waiting to help us through any circumstance.

Lord, thank you for the assurance that you are bigger than anything we face in this world.

Terri