We have a bird problem.
Over the last few weeks, we have been rudely awoken every morning by birds chirping. These feathered visitors have decided to nest in the bushes directly outside our bedroom window and have assumed the unwelcome role of our new alarm clocks.
At any other time of the day, their song is quite sweet. But this sound can grow rather tiresome when they start singing at five in the morning and don’t stop until midday.
Recently, living in the shadow of our sweet baby whom we lost, I have both wanted and needed rest. The toll this occurrence took on both my mental and physical health has left me exhausted in every aspect of my life. Thankfully, my husband has been so helpful in this healing journey.
In the days immediately following our heartbreaking loss, he took on the night shift and cared for our four-month-old baby so that I could sleep and somehow recover from a love I’ll never know earthside.
Yet, one early morning, while my husband held our sleeping baby in the next room, I was jolted awake by the sound of – you guessed it – birds tweeting.
I shot up out of the bed.
I don’t know if it was the shifting hormones or the grief, but anger swelled within me.
“These birds have got to go!” I told my sleepy-eyed husband.
Too mad to rest anymore, I sent him to bed and began rocking our baby back to sleep.
However, as I looked at his ever-changing face, the thought of those birds slowly diminished. In my arms, this baby of mine looked more peaceful (and grown) than ever before. He was changing day by day, and so was I.
Our world was different, whether we wanted it or not.
When the sun finally rose and the baby in my arms awoke, we decided to walk outside. This nature walk revealed the birds, the lush green grass growing, and the budding trees showcasing their spring-filled splendor.
The birds began flapping their wings when we got near the troublesome nest. My son started giggling, the biggest toothless grin I’ve ever seen. He thought they were the funniest thing! His laugh made me chuckle, too.
Yet, before I could think to complain about how these winged creatures had disturbed my rest, I took one look up and realized that there was something special about our backyard. Amid the bright, blooming flowers and colors, it looked like a whole new place.
Then I remembered that the Lord is a pro at making things new – even my hurting heart.
In Revelation 21:1-4, John writes:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).
What a day that will be!
These hope-filled Scriptures promise that for those of us who follow Him, not only will He come and make all things new, but we will no longer have to feel the empty void of mourning and loss. We won’t need a tissue to dry our tears any longer. Instead, the God who made the universe will reach down and wipe away each teardrop, healing us from the pain that the world has caused us.
That means no more mourning the death of loved ones and no more pain for the ones here suffering. Our tattered hearts will be whole!
Whatever struggle you are facing today, I pray that you know the true hope of the gospel. By accepting Him as Lord and Savior of your life, someday you will also experience the newness that only He can bring - both to our hearts and the world.
But until then, we can see His handiwork in the beautiful newness of spring, even including the birds that He chooses to let sing every morning.
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true” (Revelation 21:5).
