A May Devotion From Pastor Heather

May 11th, 2023

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise"

- Isaiah 43:19-21

Our church butterflies emerged from their chrysalises today! The caterpillars that Angelina shows to the kids each Sunday during the Children’s Sermon live in my office during the week so they can be exposed to sunlight through my office window.

Last week, when I arrived on Sunday morning they were all tucked into their chrysalis and I didn’t anticipate seeing them emerge as butterflies for quite a while. But when I looked over at them this morning - surprise! - one of the butterflies emerged and its wings were completely unfurled, ready for flight.

God works this way, surprising and delighting us at unexpected times! While the butterflies were probably right on schedule, my own timeline was a bit off. I thought they were days away from emerging. So often, I have these same misconceptions about God’s work in my life. I want something right now, or not yet. I want God to give me an immediate answer to questions I ask, or to show me a sign as soon as I ask for one.

Sometimes, this leaves me in danger of missing God’s work in my life and in the world. When I came to work today I didn't pay much attention to the chrysalis because I was not expecting to see butterflies. I hadn’t moved the chrysalis from the caterpillar habitat to the butterfly habitat and I had not yet prepared food for the butterflies. If the fluttering of wings had not caught my eye, I might have missed caring for these newly emerged creatures and left them vulnerable.

One of my spiritual practices is to pause and reflect on the movements of God in my life. Sometimes, I can just barely catch them as a fluttering of wings in the corner of my eye. This practice requires me to sit in stillness for a few minutes, to take a deep breath, to observe the places where I perceive the presence of the Holy.

What are the spiritual practices that help you notice the work of God in your life? Do you sense God unfurling something in your heart, or making a path through a desert place? Do you notice a thirsty space in your life that is suddenly being quenched? These all might be signs of how God is working in your life.

I would love to hear about the new things God is doing in and through you!
Send me an email or stop by to chat and share with me the spiritual practices that help you notice God’s presence.