I have written before about the hilarious group of blue jays who frequent my backyard all year long. Even before I draw back the vertical blinds in the early morning, they park their beautiful blue and white feathers on my patio furniture mere feet from my sliding patio door, their adorable little claws standing by in anticipation for the door to open and for yours truly to toss out their breakfast, lunch, and yes, dinner, and late evening snack!
The birds have learned that I am not a threat, that I can be trusted to feed them while they wait. I almost have them taking peanuts out of my hand, but they aren’t quite there yet. This morning, one of my little blue friends stood patiently nearby and stared at me with expectation. I grabbed my camera and snapped his picture. He relaxedly stood nigh, knowing that his peanut treats would come if he held fast, didn’t panic, and literally trusted the hand that fed him.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, there are times in my life when I am standing by, waiting with expectation for the Lord to toss out a handful of answered prayers and divine blessings. I also would like to confess to you that I am not always as patient and trusting as my blue jays are. In fact, as I type these words, I am standing by waiting for God to intercede in a situation. Yes, I’ve prayed, and yes, I’ve memorized verses of scripture to bolster my faith and trust. In truth, I am not as placid as my backyard jays, and I struggle while standing by.
Are you standing by? Are there things for which you need God to pull back the doors of heaven and for prayers to be answered? Standing by, or waiting on God’s answer, voice, or promise, is an essential part of your faith and mine. It’s not always as easy, but it is an act of faith. God is faithful and trustworthy, and even when it might seem that heaven’s door is closed and locked, we can know with unshaking confidence that the Lord is at work on our behalf, and we need not fear.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalms 27:14 ESV)
“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalms 33:20-22 ESV)
Even now, blue jays are scattered around my patio, each giving me the stink-eye because I’m not paying attention to them, and presently, there are no peanuts to be had. Yes, my guilt is real, but so is my resolve to wait for the Lord to act at just the right time. I know how difficult it can be to wait for Him to step in and fight battles according to His time frame, and not mine or yours.
Standing by in faith is not for the faint of heart, and yet, this is precisely what God wants you and me to do. He wants us to trust Him and never look back.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV)
Paul Smyth
