I once read a story about a Parakeet named Chippie who’d had a very bad day. It all began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean his birdcage with a vacuum cleaner. The idea was working like a charm until the phone rang. When she turned around to answer it she heard a loud thud from the cage and Chippie was gone. In a panic she tore open the vacuum bag, dug Chippie out and placed him back on his perch. Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days later the lady was asked how the bird was doing. “Well”, she replied, “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore, he just sits and stares.”
Ever feel that way? One minute you are whistling through life, and the next you’re caught up in a whirlwind of stress. Life sucks you up into its vortex and just when you’ve recovered from one trouble another one is waiting at the door. These are the moments that sleep escapes me and I worry through the night about the choices I’ve made and the ones I wish I had made.
The bible tells us that during times of trouble God sends us songs in the night (Job 35:10). And again in Psalm 77:6, “At night I remember my song. I meditate in my heart and my spirit ponders”. Don’t let life’s troubles rob you of the intimate moments of God’s refreshing. Meditate on the greatness of our Lord and He will place a song in your heart. Focusing on the seeming hopelessness of your problems will drown out your song. But, focusing on Him will bring everything into the right perspective. Then your anxiety will turn to peace and those sleepless moments will become times of worship and refreshing from the Lord. For me, these moments have become treasured memories in my life…memories of the times that God drew near.
Have a joyful day!
Pastor Jonathan
