Recently, I was sitting in my van at Elliot Lake looking out over the water. Being retired allows one to take time to enjoy nature and learn the lessons that God wants to teach His children. At the water’s edge, I had gingerly parked the van because there were two families of geese grazing on the grass and I didn’t want to hurt a gosling or a parent. One family had seven young goslings, and the other family had four.

After a short while, both families went into the water. Because I was in the van, I did not realize that the wind had come up until I watched the geese bouncing on the waves. I knew that their legs were working hard against the wind as they went over to the other side of the lake where there was a reed bed. There were quiet noises of encouragement as they swam along. Both families were swimming in single file, keeping a distance from each other. There was an adult bird in front, young goslings in the middle, and an adult coming in the rear. Their formation made me think of the phrase that we often hear, “I’ve got your back.”

Watching their trip across the lake brought verses of Scripture to my mind. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we have God in our life. He completely surrounds us in love, grace, and total security.

“He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalms 91:4 NIV)

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV)

I was reminded to rest securely in the knowledge that God the Father designed the plan of our salvation, that Christ paid the penalty for our sin at Calvary, and that believers can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit through the truths of Scripture.

Watching these geese doing as God intended made me think of how God works in believers’ lives to get them safely home. Not one goose looked back at where they came from — they all looked forward. Similarly, you and I must press on to God’s high calling in Christ Jesus. Along the way, we can encourage each other and build each other up in the faith.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for Your help to understand the lessons that we learn from Your creation. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to the place called Calvary to die for our sins. As Your children, may we realize that we need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in the truths of Your Scriptures. Help us to know that we are secure all around when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Help us to show Your love to family, friends, and neighbours. Amen.

Copyright © 2022, by Ruth Rowe <ruthjohn.rowe@gmail.com>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca .
Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada

Reprinted from PresbyCan with author’s permission