The Dove Who Rested

When we value simple things, hope and encouragement permeate our lives.

This time of year, doves try to make nests atop our columns. When we allow them to build, we experience an unsanitary mess. Twigs and nest-building debris lay on the ground, and worse, tiny brown orbs with white dots scatter about, looking like so many eyeballs.

Despite our diligence to shoo the doves away, one persevered, and we discovered her sitting on a nest. I dubbed her, “the dove who triumphed,” but as I thought about it, I changed that to “the dove who rested.”

Yes, rested; it’s not a typo. If  you think perseverance merits the main idea here, stay with me.

Back to our bird. We hear chirps in the nest, and the droppings have increased, but we don’t have the heart to remove the nest until the chicks have fledged.

This diligent dove reminds me of the words spoken by Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) in the movie Jurassic Park; to paraphrase, “Life finds a way.”

Perhaps a better way to phrase this is, God made a way.

The scriptures often speak of the Creator’s work, and He provides lessons for us through nature.

                “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matt. 6:26 (NASB)

Christians often ask God, when faced with a decision, whether to turn to the right or left. I believe that often God says to us, “The real decision isn’t which way to turn, but will you take me along with you? Will you trust me?” This is the connecting thread: God tells us to rest, to trust in Him, with the events of our lives, the good and the bad.

I have a boyhood memory: my cousin Joe and I decided to ride our bikes down a steep gravel road. My handlebars turned into a two-inch wide blur, but I hung on for dear life and made it to the bottom. At times, my life has felt like this bike experience. I grab the handlebars and hold on for dear life.

C. S. Lewis wrote in one of his letters to the Reverend Peter Bide, on April 29, 1959, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us, we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

I try to remember what Jesus said about “the birds of the air.” I know I need to rest in Him, submit to His will, and talk to Him about my concerns.

Fear is not from God (2 Tim. 1:7.) Yet, I fear. I hear a whispered lie: I can’t trust God to forgive me. He’ll give me the punishment I deserve, and I have no way to change my fate. I don’t, but our Heavenly Father does.

God made a way. He offers His redeeming love, unmerited favor, His grace, as a gift to those who call upon the name of Jesus.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NASB)

When I hold tightly to the handlebars of life, I’m saying I don’t trust God for His love, and His watchful eye upon my life, the life over which I chose to make Him Lord.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (NLT)

In good times and bad, I have learned to pray, and pray some more. When I bathe my thoughts in scripture, something miraculous happens.

I rest in Him, like the dove. This peace comes from the Spirit.

                “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB)

Dr. Robert Jeffress referenced the writings of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21-30. Jeffress wrote, “There are times when it is good to have a case of holy indifference—to not panic about what will happen.” Paul, in prison, faced possible execution, but he rested in God, and “ironically, Paul’s holy apathy gave him tremendous determination,” to travel and preach the gospel.

I’m not advocating laziness. My mom used to tell me, “If you pray for potatoes, you’d better have a hoe in hand.”

I see the “holy indifference” Dr. Jeffress describes as a combination of deference and diligence.

Paul didn’t worry about his life. He deferred to God’s control. Yet, he pursued his ministry with diligence. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.” Philippians 1:23-24 (NLT)

So many times in scripture, God tells us to lean on Him.

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

There you have it. The Lord tells us to find strength by resting in Him, like the dove.

I could do better, but when I practice trust, holy indifference, He’s always there, giving peace, even when His best turns out to be painful. I don’t need to fiercely grip the handlebars of my life.

The psalmist wrote:

“‘Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Psalms 46:10-11 (NASB)

I find it interesting this verse ends with the word, selah. When we see the word selah in a psalm, we’re invited to pause to carefully weigh the meaning of what we have just read or heard, lifting up our hearts in praise to God for His great truths.

The same applies to life. God provides a way.

I want to trust God more. I hope to live like The Dove Who Rested.

Selah.