God is the Director

The weather is getting cool outside and I’m still feeding the hummingbirds. Now, we live in a northern latitude and I know the hummingbirds typically migrate south during our winter season. I wondered if I was harming them by providing food during autumn. Would the hummingbirds delay flying south because they were confused by my coddling?

I was determined not to hurt these little birds with my meddling. So before I mixed up the next batch of nectar solution, I looked it up online. I was relieved to find that hummingbird migration is not based on the availability of food, but on the length of daylight. As the days get shorter, they naturally know it’s time to leave. Phew, I’m glad God thought of that! It’s a good thing that the universe is not powered by my worry or anxiety.

Some people have trouble taking responsibility for their choices. They don’t recognize the connections between their decisions and the resulting consequences. I, on the other hand, burden myself with guilt over many things that I don’t have any control over. At first glance, this might seem virtuous, but it is just another form of egotism. I actually imagine I have more influence over world than I really do. I forget that God is actually in control. He has prepared in advance, knowing our weaknesses and limitations. He has a disaster plan already in place.

“I’ll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I’ll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances. I’ll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables—Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God—who calls you by your name—that I’ve singled you out, and given you this privileged work.  And you don’t even know me! I’m the one who armed you for this work. I form light and create darkness. I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all these things.” (Excerpts from Isaiah 45:1-7 MSG)