God’s protection.
Weathered.
Beaten up.
Broken.
Aged.
Abused.
Those words may be an appropriate description of my old woodpecker feeder. We still have it, but it no longer feeds the woodpeckers.
When the feeder appeared in my photo que, I immediately thought about our decision to take it down. It wasn’t useless. It still held suet cakes. It still provided an opportunity for woodpeckers to feed. And, at times it was ideal because the woodpeckers were pretty large and they took up a lot of space on the other feeders, often pushing smaller birds out of the way.
The main reason we took it down was because squirrels ate more of the food than the woodpeckers. The other feeders were squirrel-proof. I believe the squirrels caused much of the damage to the woodpecker feeder, too. The other feeders were made of a more durable material and held up much better.
In addition, we noticed the woodpeckers were starting to eat at the squirrel-proof feeders because the squirrels were dominating their feeder.
God’s protection. #hope #joy #writingcommunity Click To TweetYou don’t want to become the woodpecker feeder in life.
You may feel weathered, beaten up, broken, aged, and abused. Could be you don’t feel totally useless, but know you’re missing out on something. Could it be you are going the way of my woodpecker feeder?
There are times I’ve felt that way. Hanging on by a thread. Still getting by. Still putting one foot in front of the other. Not as strong and effective as I wanted to be. In those times, I felt unprotected. The squirrels of life were stealing my strength, my purpose, my passion. If I continued down that path, I knew it wouldn’t be too terribly long before I’d essentially be out of service.
Not a good place to be.
Feeling like we are no longer useful is a huge fear. It’s like having no hope. If you’ve felt this way, take heart. There is hope for your situation.
Isaiah is a book filled with God’s promises. Though Israel was often rebellious, God had big plans for them as a nation. Listen to how God describes Israel in Isaiah 41:8.
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;” (Isaiah 41:8, ESV).
I found a nugget in the footnotes of my Bible regarding Isaiah 41:8. I love the way the translation’s editors put it. They refer to verse 8 as a reminder of God’s promises. They say, “Mention of God’s having chosen Jacob and Israel’s status as the offspring of Abraham speaks clearly of God’s promises and therefore reminds them that, they inhabit a story filled with God’s purposes.” (emphasis mine)
We can be reminded of this same promise. We also inhabit a story filled with God’s purposes. He is there for us every step of the way. As part of His story, we can rest in the promise He gives Israel in the next few verses, specifically, verse 10.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
There is hope. We don’t have to end up like my woodpecker feeder. We can be like the other feeders. Durable, protected, and fulfilling our purpose.
How about you? Do you feel protected or close to out of service?
Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
Hey Tim – your post brought a smile to my face and heart. The smile to my face because it reminded me of the great squirrel war I’ve mentioned before, as well as how much space the awkward appearing and cumbersome looking Pileated Woodpecker (I only say “awkward appearing and cumbersome looking” in appearance of course, for it is really neither if you actually watch it) really does take up on a feeder (not to mention your being right: I for one certainly do not “want to become the woodpecker feeder in life” :o)).
More importantly, the smile in my heart comes from your question: “Do you feel . . . close to out of service?” As you know I really did not begin my academic education until much later in life – close to my retirement from the Corps. As such, one of the things that has become incredibly apparent to me is the fact that institutions of higher learning have no real interest at all in hiring someone from who, in all likeliness, they will only get a decade or two of work from. My very insightful and encouraging wife reminded me, however, to focus on GOD’s calling and plan and to ignore the nay-sayers and negativists. So as usual, I looked to Scripture and was quickly reminded that:
Abram was 75 years old (Ge. 12:4) when GOD called him to be the father of a great nation (Ge. 12:1-3) ~ he was 100 when Isaac was born (Ge. 21:5); Sarah herself was 90-91 (arrived at by reckoning) when Isaac was born.
Moses was 80 years old when he confronted Pharaoh; his brother-in-law and helper Aaron was 83 years old (Ex. 7:7)
The winner, of course, is Noah who was about 480 years old (some say over 500) when God called him to build The Ark (reckoning), and 600 when the Flood actually came (Ge. 7:6); 601 when he left the Ark (Ge. 8:14-15) and began the work of reestablishing society.
I could go on with other examples, but the point is that we have to (1) ignore society AND (2) get out of our own ways when serving GOD. If we buy into the lie which society constantly screams at us (often, quite loudly) that we are too old (in my case too young, of course :o)), or too frail, or too broken, or not smart enough, or every other discouraging statement someone can hurl at us from the sidelines about how useful we are, we rob the very society which denigrates us from the blessing of GOD through the works—“prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them”—which He has chosen us—“His workmanship”—to perform (Ep. 2:10) as He amplifies our weaknesses and shortcomings productively for His Honor and for His Glory “so that the works of God might be displayed” in us (cf., Jn. 9:3; 10:38; 11:4, 40), for – as GOD Himself asks – “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Ge. 18:14; cf., Je. 32:17, 27; Ze. 8:6; Mt. 19:26; Lk. 1:37; Ro. 4:21). Thus, the “nugget” you found “in the footnotes of [your] Bible regarding Isaiah 41:8 ~ “. . . they inhabit a story filled with God’s purposes.” (your emphasis) made both my face and my heart smile. Particularly your insight: “We also inhabit a story filled with God’s purposes. He is there for us every step of the way. As part of His story, we can rest in the promise He gives . . .”
Well said my friend.
Keep up the good work my Brother – guy
Thank you for the encouragement brother. I love all those great reminders of the stalwarts God used in His perfect time. Such a hard thing sometimes to wait for God’s timing. But, if He promises, then He will deliver. That we can count on. Praying you have a great week.