Guest Post by: Katie Cline

Look to the Birds and Remember

I didn’t doubt the greatness of God or what He could do; I just doubted that He’d move mightily in my life. I don’t know why that was my mindset, but it’s probably because I had been living in the land of disappointment. I had experienced some major letdowns over the past few years and had watched others that I love experience them as well. God is good, but I didn’t feel like I was seeing that in a personal way.

A few months ago I knew that God was trying to teach me to expect Him. With an attitude, I said, “Fine, then show me where in Your Word it says that I’m supposed to expect You to act.” He led me to James 1:6-7 which says,

“When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

From those verses, I knew He wanted me to expect Him to move, but I still had to work through my typical way of thinking. He kept bringing up the topic. He even had me dig out an old journal from when I was 12. In the third page of the journal, I had written a prayer that ended with, “I know if I ask, and I mean it, I will receive.” The verses I read, the messages I heard, and the conversations I had, were all God encouraging me to expect and believe.

There came a point when I was facing a tough time of need. It was a difficult time, and it made this lesson in expectation more of an aggravation than anything else. For months, God had instructed me to trust, believe, and expect Him to move, yet I was left feeling desperate and alone with unmet prayers. One Thursday morning, God had directed me to listen to a particular message. This message prompted me to write a wish list to God. I call it a wish list, but it was a simple list of needs. In my journal, I began the list by saying, “Through faith, I believe You’ll provide for all of my needs. I believe this because Your Word tells us that You will. I trust that You’ll make a way and provide.”

The deadline came for one of my needs to be met, and I hadn’t received anything. I cried out to God not understanding. I was upset, brokenhearted, and disappointed once again. Little did I know that earlier that week God had put it on my sweet friend’s heart to meet that need. She didn’t even know the details! Before the end of that “deadline day,” God used this friend to completely meet my need. I was humbled, blown away, and overflowing with gratefulness. Proving how human I am, I didn’t even think that other needs on the list would be met. (I have a lot to learn). In the weeks to come, He continued to meet my needs, the ones on my wish list and even ones that I hadn’t listed. Isn’t that just like our God? He’s over-the-top. He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

“Look at the birds free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him.” Matthew 6:26

This was my “careless” moment. This was when I experienced Matthew 6:26 in its fullness. I was overwhelmed and humbled that God moved in my life. The whole time I teetered between expecting and doubting, yet He still showed up. He still took care of me.

God wants to move in our lives, not because of who we are or what we’ve done, but because of who He is. He wants us to trust Him. God might not always move in ways we think He will, but He keeps His promises. He wants us to feel careless in His care, resting in and relying on Him. Hold onto those careless moments. When you start feeling like you have to hold everything together, “look to the birds” and remember.

Katie Cline lives in the Pittsburgh, PA area where she has the privilege of spending time with hundreds of teens as a substitute teacher.

She also writes for and is a part of the team at Enduring Hope Ministries.

Katie’s counting down the days until baseball season starts, prefers her nose to be in a book, and is thrilled to be helping with her 5th school musical.

You can connect with her on Twitter @katester200.