Trembling Sparrow

Tuesday 6/12/2012 6:26 AM

We are nearing summer solstice and it is getting light earlier in the morning.  I left for my run this morning at about 5:15 and the sky was already lightening with birds flitting about looking for their first meal of the day.  As I ran I listened to my iPod and the song His Eye is on the Sparrow came on.  “Why do I feel discouraged and why do the shadows come?  And why does my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home?  When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is he; his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.”  Seeing the sparrows looking for food and hearing the song gave me assurance of God’s presence and I wondered why I get discouraged and wonder about the reality of the coming of the kingdom of God.

I sat down for my devotions after my run and part of my assigned reading was Hosea 11.  It describes the love of God for his people as that of a father for his children.  These are God’s words about his people, “…I called my son.  But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. … It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.  I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.  To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. … My people are determined to turn from me.”  God is angered by the stubborn defiance of his people but he relents from his anger and the return of his people is described in this way, “They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves.  I will settle them in their homes.”

My disregard of God’s constant care and my disbelief in his goodness as I live my life bring God pain and it makes him angry.  Thankfully he does not treat me as I deserve but settles me in his loving embrace like a trembling sparrow.  I pray that I will be more aware of God’s care and that I will trust in his goodness more.