Just a few days ago, I headed to the wooded sanctuary behind my house where I walk (almost) daily with my dog. Most of the time, I am listening to a Tony Evans’ podcast, “Truth for Life” with Alistair Begg, or a new podcast I’ve found called “The Habit” from the Rabbit Room.
On this particular day, however, I decided not to listen to a podcast. As I was walking amidst the praise of the birds, the knocking of leafless limbs in the winds, and the rustle of the damp leaves under my feet, I heard the whistle of a hawk high above. It was a slightly windy day, and I looked beyond the barren limbs to find the hawk, floating as the wind carried it in long, figure-eight paths. I stood still to watch the carefree, peaceful way that it sailed, high above the trees.
Soon, I heard the caw of a crow and watched as it flew at the hawk. Within seconds, the crow had summoned any close friends to harass the hawk, morphing its peaceful, figure eight path into a sporadic, unpredictable path. The crows dove at the hawk, cawing and attacking it!
The moment was not lost on my heart and eyes, ready for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, as I smiled to myself and said, “I feel you, hawk!”
How many times have I found myself singing and soaring along as the hawk, enjoying life, reveling in my children and my marriage, when out of nowhere, a barrage of “crow” thoughts come at me?!
The Enemy will not let us rest and enjoy God’s Presence. He can’t stand it when we have peace! So, one by one, the crow thoughts will come to attack:
“You’re not doing enough.”
“You are wasting your time.”
“Who do you think you are, to think anyone will find hope in what you are doing?”
“You don’t serve your husband as well as you should.”
“You are not teaching your children enough about Jesus.”
“You aren’t a writer. Why are you writing?”
“You can’t trust people, so keep your distance.”
The Enemy is a thief, and he comes to steal our joy, our rest, and our peace. He wants us to be in a constant state of worry, anxiousness, and sadness. He wants to remind us how we’ve failed in the past, and how often we fall short, and how unworthy we are to serve God. He wants to isolate us from community, so that no one helps to correct our steps, speaks life into us, or leads our hearts and minds to what God says about us. He wants to destroy marriages, and to remind us of how short our spouse has fallen from our expectation. He loves secrets and thoughts of “What would they think if they really knew?”
With a quick shift in perspective, we can take the crow thoughts captive, set them against the hope we know in Christ, and listen with attentiveness as the Advocate reminds us of what Jesus promised (John 14:26-27):
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The promise given through Isaiah is that those who hope in the Lord will renew our strength, and we will soar (Isaiah 40:30-31):
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Being reminded, our confident peace is renewed, our peace is restored, and our figure eight soar may recommence.
Back to the hawk - it moved on to a new air space after being attacked by the crows. The hawk didn’t care for the crows’ negativity, I think.
(Also, in case you read into this that I think crows are evil, I do not.)