This is the time of year that, as I put out a fresh batch of hummingbird sugar-water, I wonder if it will be the last time for the season. I want to be sure to leave the fuel that sustains them on their journey out for as long as they need it. The hummingbirds will travel on their 1500 - 2000 mile journey through America, across the Gulf to Mexico and South America. They drink as much as they can to double their size to travel the distance. The sweet nectar is their lifeline.
A hummingbird doesn’t look at a map, and it doesn’t wait for signs in the sky to tell it that winter is coming. It responds to an internal, instinctual pull to migrate. These little creatures, that weigh less than a nickel, embark on an incredible journey.
Faith can operate on a similar internal compass. It is the quiet, persistent nudge that tells us there is more to our existence than the immediate horizon. We cannot see our destination, and we certainly can’t see the path across the expanse of our lives, yet we are pulled towards hope and purpose in Jesus even when the journey is difficult.
One of the amazing parts of a hummingbird’s journey is its endurance. They cross the ocean against headwinds and cresting waves. Their little wings beat 80 times per second as they skim across the water.
When our faith is wavering and the waves are crashing, we often assume we are doing something wrong because it feels difficult. We wonder why we are tired, why we have doubts, and why progress feels slow. Fighting the headwinds doesn’t mean you are failing, it means you are moving forward, even if it’s hard. It is completely natural to have struggles and doubts when it comes to our faith. Like the hummingbird, each little beat of its wing moves them forward, God is continually with us in our steps forward on our faith journey.
We are never flying alone. If God’s hand is steady enough to guide a tiny bird to the far side of the sea, God will hold us through our transitions and carry us further than our own strength ever could.
What fuel do you need to move forward in hope and purpose in Jesus? Quiet time for prayer, Sunday morning worship, a conversation over coffee with a friend, sweet chocolate 😊, a daily devotion, time outdoors or with music, stepping into a Bible or Book study, etc. Just one little step forward…
As Psalm 139:9-10 reminds us:
"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
Journeying with you in faith,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation