Chicks in the Rain
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
We have had some nasty rain and thunderstorms up here in the mountains! The chicks have had their first experiences with both! They don’t mind the rain as much as the thunder. From the window, I watch them get drenched and wonder why they don’t seek shelter. Eventually they will mosey down to the coop and get under it but by then, they are soaked.
Are we like chickens? I dare say we are! While we have much more brain power, we don’t always use it wisely. We wander, chase bugs (dreams), go down rabbit holes, and pursue all kinds of wants and desires.
This reminds me of God’s vast umbrella. As His flock, He provides us with protection and safety when we remain under His canopy. But when we choose to be free-range and wander out in the world, we are prey for the evil one who desires to destroy us. The choice is ours, not His.
He calls us back to His fold and shows us grace, mercy, and forgiveness. But what would happen if we never left in the first place? I can only imagine that we would be much further ahead in our faith journey. We would not have deep battle scars, unhealthy memories, or fears.
Perhaps we need to remember these verses:
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
The pullets are almost adult now, but I continue to think of them as my babies. When something startles them, they run back to the safety of the bushes by the porch as fast as their skinny, chicken-legs can go. We need to be more like them!
Yes, we are like chickens for in God’s eyes, we will always be His babies in need of protection from the storms of life.
Almighty Protector, thank You for Your Word that gives us strength, hope, and courage. Be with us even when we wander. Bring us back with tender, loving words, and memories of what You have done for us in the past. AMEN.