Daily Devotionals

The Sparrows

Posted in Fear/Anxiety

Scripture: “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?” – Matthew 6:26

 

I “retired” a few months ago from my duties as one of the core members of the group of daily devotional writers, yet here I am authoring today’s message… and totally by choice! This issue has been on my mind constantly, so I decided to submit this devotional as a challenge to myself and to hopefully reach others who might be struggling with the same thing as I: WORRY– particularly as it relates to my career.

 

Confession: I’m a worrier… but I want to be a WARRIOR. I have been in sales my entire career. Every day, every week, every month, every quarter, every year, I’m defined by a number. It consumes me, so much so that refreshing my sales dashboard on my laptop or phone multiple times a day, even while on vacation, has become the norm. Even as I write this, I realize how sad that is. My girls are getting older and I know it won’t be too long before they start noticing me constantly staring at a number on my screen. I do not want to be this way; I do not want to be “that dad.” 

 

Rather than a worrier, I want to be a warrior for Christ. That’s the image I want my girls to have of me.

 

As I was driving recently to my next sales call, “Sparrows” by Cory Asbury* started playing on my radio, and it had such a profound impact on me. I encourage each of you to google it and listen. Here are the opening lyrics of the song:

 

“The sparrows not worried ’bout tomorrow

or the troubles to come.

The lily’s not thinking ‘bout the seasons

The drought or the flood.

A tree that’s planted by the water

Isn’t fazed by the fire.

So why should I be?

 

Cause You take good care of me,

You take good care of me.

You know what I need before I even ask a thing

And You hold me in Your hands

With a kindness that never ends.

I’m carried in Your love no matter what the future brings.

Yeah, you take good care of me.”

 

Hearing this while driving down I-20, it was clear to me that it was a sign from God. If God is taking care of the sparrows, then he certainly has the best intentions for me and my career path going forward. I know it will take some adapting from me, but I am continually reminding myself that God loves me the same, whether I win the coveted “President’s Club” award for my company or fall short of hitting my goal. All I have to do is trust in his plan.

 

Prayer:  Lord, You are a good, good Father. Thank you so much for loving us, despite all of our shortcomings. I pray that we worriers will become warriors for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Submitted by Gabriel DiBiase

 

*Asbury, Cory Hunter with Ethan Gregory Hulse, Jared Anderson, Andrew Ripp. “Sparrows,” Daywind Soundtracks, 2020.