A Lesson from a Shadow

The shadow was perfect.  It was a sunny morning, the bird was eating at the feeder.  By the movement in the birds shadow he must have been very hungry.  I could not see the bird but I believed he was there.  I could not know for sure the bird was eating, but I had faith he was.

The movement and the detailed outline of the shadow was intriguing.  I could almost "see" the real thing in my mind.  I assumed the bird enjoyed the food by the vigorous eating movements.  I believed the bird was unafraid because he did not fly away.   I also had faith that the bird in the shadow had feathers.

I couldn't see the brightness or kind of color or the contour of his body.  However, I knew that the feeder was a finch feeder and finch birds are yellow and black.  This gave me an image to mentally add to the shadow.  When I walked to a new position I saw the bird as he really was.

I know Jesus is here beside me.  I can't see Him.  I don't know how tall He is or the color of His skin nor can I see the expression in His eyes.  However, I can see how He works in my life.  Things are that could never have been without His intervention.

I believe He is with me.  I know the peace He gives me.  I know the sustaining strength that is not my own.  I know the thoughts beyond my ability to know and how those thoughts bring success to impossible situations.  No, I can't see the details of the face of Jesus but I know He is smiling.  His word tells me He loves me, that I am His precious child, that He cares about every detail of my life.  I know that His arms are around me, holding me.  Sometimes they keep me from falling: other times they keep me going another day.  Still other times His arms hold me back...keeping me in His perfect will.

By faith I know Jesus is there with a loving smile just as I know the bird is there eating at the feeder.  The shadow cast an outline that gives me a belief that the bird is there.  The peace inside of me fills me with a calmness giving me faith that Jesus is with me.  Until I can walk to another position to see Jesus as I saw the bird, I will continue to believe and have faith from the evidence of His presence.  How glorious it will be to see Him as He really is!



I John 3:2

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is."
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