Light as a Feather

" But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Late last night, I got off the phone with my mom and sat in my driveway for a number of minutes.  As the crickets chirped and the wind rustled the trees, I became keenly aware of my surroundings.  I sat in a place I have a countless number of times.  My driveway - who knew it would become a place of refuge for me.  In that moment, I was enveloped in God's love.  No music, no talking...complete and udder silence other than those which were part of this earth which God so graciously blessed us with.  I didn't realize it, but it was the conversation with my mom that really sparked my desire to be fulfilled with more of the Greatness of our King.

I live an hour away from my parents.  It becomes less and less often that I can go home because of my work and school schedules.  Over the last two years, we have settled into the habit of talking for five to ten minutes a day.  Every time I speak with them, I cherish the moment, we tend to find ourselves catching up on random nothings, the usual "how was your day," "Love you," and "miss you," a quiet exchange of our daily happenings...  Nothing too terribly tasking to discuss, but yesterday was so drastically different.  Yesterday I shared with my mom a battle that I have been waging with myself over the last few weeks, and how God quietly stepped in to make a BIG difference in just a few short weeks.

Above, you see Isaiah 40:31.  This bible verse will forever be engraved in my memory.  This bible verse is the very reason in which I will always and forever put my trust in the Lord, even when I think the issue is too small.  I, like many college students, have started fretting over the start of the semester.  Every time I start thinking about the start of the semester, I begin stressing over things that are out of my control.  After reading this particular bible verse several weeks ago, I realized that no matter is too big - or small - for God.  If we just place our worries and stresses in God's hands, all of our problems become light as feathers - we will no longer have to worry.

As though giving me a daily reminder, I have managed to encounter at least one feather a day.  This morning in particular, I reverted back to the same college stresses, and perfectly timed as always, God sent me a reminder that if I just place my worries in His hands I have nothing to fear.

Here is the bridge that stopped me in my tracks, the
very same one I pass over on a regular basis.
The creek bed winds just under it.  

I was on the green-way path, a running trail less than 100 yards from my front door.  This morning in particular I choose not to take my iPod with me on a run.  This is a rare occurrence, as I firmly believe that there is a tune for every situation.  Today, I wanted to be completely submerged in the beauty of the landscapes of the path that I run regularly.  What a great decision it was!  Less than a quarter of a mile into my run, I noticed the trickling creek that ran under the bridge; how serene.  Less than half a mile from that, I was away from the main roadways and completely surrounded with nature - from the birds to the bright green of the landscape that I was surrounded with, I noticed so much more that I ever would have, if I had taken my iPod with me.  In those short moments, I didn't have tweets to share, Facebook statuses to update, text messages to reply to, or even phone calls to make.  In that moment I was completely overcome with an opportunity to be truly one with God.  For just a moment, I stopped to take it all in.  In that moment - perfectly timed as always - floats down a very small, white feather.  Need I say more?  Talk about stopping you in your tracks.  Flawless timing, flawless delivery, and absolutely no distractions to keep me from hearing His message loud and clear.

 God is always listening, ever present, and never falters in His delivery.  

Photo Credit: wordpress.com

Who would have imagined that a feather would be the very thing to help me place my struggles into God's hands?  Such a simple reminder that makes such a big difference.

♫There is a peace I have come to know, Though my heart and flesh may fail, there is an anchor for my soul. I can say, "It is well."  ...I will rise on eagles' wings♫

Chris Tomlin "I Will Rise" 

"A Feather a Day, to Keep Your Worries Away"