For those of you who have been following my blog, I am in the process of transitioning from a counseling group practice to an independent practitioner status. I submitted all the necessary paperwork to the respective insurance companies beginning in May. As of this writing, I am still waiting for approval from some of the companies. For those insurance companies to which I have been approved there are internal glitches within the companies holding up the process. It has been a very emotionally painful and frustrating time. I admit that there have been many moments when I just wanted to quit the counseling ministry and do something else. In the agony of waiting, I have wondered where is God? God answered that prayer through some tiny messengers who have mastered the "art" of waiting. Every year we have house wrens nesting in a bird house attached to our porch. One pair has already mated, given birth, and abandoned the house after their chicks were old enough to leave the nest themselves. Shortly thereafter, a second house wren began investigating the bird box. Day after day the bird would sing it's heart out seeking to attract a mate. I began to feel sorry for the bird as it waited for what seemed like an eternity. I was reminded of the psalmist cry to the Lord, "Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." (Psalm 130:1-2;5-6 NIV)
A Hymn Of Praise
The house wren I believe was not only lifting it's voice to find a mate but crying out to the Lord as it waited. It was remarkable to me that the bird could be so faithful every morning to wait yet still keep on singing. Sometimes in my frustration I could barely pray let alone sing! However, this patient little creation of God finally received what it had been waiting for, a mate! The two, like their predecessors, are now in the process of preparing to bring forth new life.
The psalmist again declares, "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him." (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV) These words of Psalm 40 are a vivid example of what I saw play out with the house wren. The Lord rewarded its patience and now the house wren has a new song to sing, "a hymn of praise" to God! I pray that I will learn well the lessons from this little "messenger of God" and master the "art" of waiting. As I wait patiently for the Lord, may he put a song of praise in my heart and on my lips. A hymn of praise to my God!
Shalom,
Pastor Sheree
