Last week I noticed these ducks in our yard at the lake. It was pouring down rain, yet they went about the morning as if it were bright & sunny. When you think about it, they have no warm & safe shelter or control over the weather. They do not have a pantry, refrigerator & freezer to store food. They have no vehicles to transport them to distant locations. And they have no schools, books, or social media to teach them how to prepare & respond to difficult times. Yet, these ducks are not fazed by the conditions.

Whether you are a duck or a human, life can be sweet & smooth one minute and harsh & hard the next. It is in the marvels of nature that I recognize God’s incredible hand. The unexplainable knowledge of how a barn swallow builds a brick-like nest high in a building or how geese & loons know when to fly south and where to go, can only come from God. But what about us? What did God give us?

First, God formed mankind (Genesis 2:7). He gave us His personal presence as documented all through the Bible. Then He went beyond that, He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus (John 3:16) to save us from ourselves…our sinful ways. But God went over the top. God gave us the weather protection He gave ducks & other animals. He gave us power & protection found in the Holy Spirit and His Word to live as “victors” in a harsh world. He has even provided specific instructions found in Ephesians 6:10-17.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

So, are you tired of going around wondering what’s going to happen? Tired of the anxiety the news of the day brings? Are you tired of being a “victim”? Are you worried if you will have enough? Know this, we have no more control over these conditions than the weather. The only thing we have control over is how we respond. I find peace & confidence in the words of Joshua. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

“…choose for yourselves this day…”