He Will Quiet You with His Love...

Are you searching for peace in the midst of panic?  Find rest here...
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

Over the years, one of the most profound ways the Lord communicates with me is through baby owls. Usually when this majestic creature appears, it’s when I’m walking through a difficult season in life. 

The Lord uses the baby owl to get my attention and console my soul. You may be wondering, “How do you know it’s from God?” Well, for starters, it doesn’t happen every day. The timing of when this precious bird pokes its head out is special and perfect. Romans 1:20 reminds us the Lord does communicate through his creation: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” 

Also, the location of where the owl usually appears has deep significance. Right by our driveway, we have a large Oak Tree that is growing. It just happens to have a decent sized knot in the middle of it. That’s where the baby owl emerges and makes his presence known. Whenever I’m pulling out of the driveway or taking a walk, I’m forced to “look up” in anticipation of it possibly being up there today. Most of the time it’s not, but I still look for it with expectancy. The rare times it’s there, I’m in complete awe! I’m totally captivated that I can’t help but stop and listen. The baby owl sits there perched, basking in the sunlight, with it’s big eyes squinted. It looks so peaceful. It’s what the Lord uses to quiet my soul. I’m completely mesmerized by its beauty, and usually a specific word or scripture is whispered to me. It’s the hope that I needed hear at that very moment - it’s His love. 

Another unusual incident happened a couple of years ago. My husband and I have struggled with infertility for years. I was sitting on the back porch when out of nowhere, a baby owl landed right by feet! It just sat there staring at me with those big brown eyes. In complete shock, all I could do was cry and thank the Lord! I cannot overlook the fact that the baby owl continues to reveal itself near my house – the message is for me and it’s personal. 

How often do we let circumstances skew our view of life and God? Our vision is extremely limited by design. We rely solely on faith, walking and believing in the unseen. Did you know that owls have binocular vision? Just like the Lord, he sees everything from afar. Acts 17:27 says “that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” 

Owls also have unbelievable hearing. They can determine the location of sound by turning its head until it reaches both ears. The last sound perceived determines the location of the prey. If the prey moves, the owl is able to adjust its flight pattern in mid-flight! How many times have I cried out to the Lord and felt as if He didn’t hear me? How often do I take matters in my own hands and run with it? Only to find out later, his steadfast love was hovering over me the whole time. Nothing is too far from God! Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.” 

At times when I’ve felt like giving up, the Lord always surprises me with his timing. He doesn’t just show up – he swoops down and rescues me! Similar to the owl’s hunting strategy, it’s based on stealth and surprise. The dull coloration of the owl’s feathers can render it almost invisible under certain conditions. Its wings are designed to muffle the sound of their movement, allowing the flight to be practically silent. Part of the Lord’s tactic in fighting our battles is to remain incognito. Even though I couldn’t see him through the thick smoke, his shadow was ever present. Psalms 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” 

Finding rest for your soul includes shutting down the noises we create within ourselves. The Hebrew word for peace is “Shalom.” Seek and be silent...Let the strength of Jesus carry you today! 

“Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16