On the Wings of a Dove
- Laura Laine Steffens
- Jul 29, 2009
On the Wings of a Dove:
Answered Prayer
By Laura Steffens
How often have you experienced wayward birds that dim-wittedly fly into glass windows only to be thrashed to the ground where they lay stunned for a moment then rise, shake off their bewilderment and fly away?
At our home, we have two uninvited bird’s nests inhabited by Mourning Doves. One nest is above the window of our living room in the front of the house and another under the header beam of our patio roof in the back. As a result, we occasionally see the antics of these gentle, although sometimes annoying, avian wild life.
Their most welcomed contribution to the Steffens’ home is the soft cooing sound they make: cur-WOO, cur-WOO, cur-WOO in the early morning. When the sun is ready to peek over the Rincon Mountains and soft pink light falls like sprinkles on our little abode, the beauty of nature is always a rewarding reminder that God has the earth in the palm of His hand. Whatever unfolds during my day, I know I will see the Lord working in my situation.
Once while sewing a button on a shirt, I heard a loud crash. It sounded like a rocket being propelled through the sizeable window in the living room. Startled by the violent collision, I jumped up from the couch and ran to see what happened. There in the corner of the ledge sat a motionless, conscious yet meek dove. She was not bleeding, nor did it appear she had any broken bones. In fact, at first glance, she looked unharmed. Her dark eyes darted in dizzying circles while hyperventilating gasps shook her tiny frame. I assume the bird was female based on the soft gray color of her plumage. It was hard to tell if she was in a great deal of pain, afraid or just stunned. Perhaps the little critter struggled with all three. Whatever her condition, with the exception of her eyes, she did not budge.
While trying to determine the facts of this cruel event, I noticed a smeared oily imprint on the window leaving a trail of feathers and milkish residue pointing to the bird’s resting place on the windowsill. Surely she hit the window hard, really hard!
My first reaction was to pray and ask the Lord to heal this little emblem of peace. After all doesn’t Jesus tell us in Matthew 10:29 that “…not one sparrow will fall to the ground without the Father’s consent?” Although the scripture is making a comparison between God’s concern for human life and how He controls all life, I believe the Lord cares about the birds too. Moved by the creature’s suffering, I prayed for healing, restoration and peace for this poor diminutive dove.
As I had finished praying and raised my head, a large red-tailed hawk flew seemingly out of no where right up to the same windowsill and perched herself on the edge of the wooden plank that housed my injured visitor. I had never before seen a live hawk up-close. Fearful for the dove, but overtaken by the impressive presence of this amazing predatory bird, I froze. We locked eyes and I stood transfixed by the amazing display of nature only inches away. The hawk and I were separated only by a sheet of window glass. Her nobility was immediately apparent and the most outstanding characteristic of her feathered frame. Colored in varying shades of brown, her wings in mottled auburn and her chest in pure fluffy-cotton white, she was a magnificent sight.
It was odd to see a bird of prey come so close to a larger, and what I assumed was intimidating, human. Red-tailed hawks usually pursue rodents, reptiles and other small mammals in open areas at night. Yet here she was at about 9:00 a.m. with her broad wings and short tail spanning a height well over two feet, which is why I assumed she was likely female.
We locked eyes. Neither of us moved, and it seemed did not breathe, as we stood immobilized for several minutes.
I did not have enough time to go to the front door and shoo her away. Looking at the dove, I realized she had most likely broken her claws and was unable to escape. Yet, I knew in my spirit something greater than me, bigger than any predatory invader, or more important than the dove’s suffering, was unfolding in a supernatural drama. Yes, I knew it was the power of prayer which had been released though the Holy Spirit. I wanted to direct the action, call to order all of nature, and to see this tragedy play out with a happy ending. But, that was not to be.
The hawk, without moving her eyes, reached her razor-sharp talons to the corner where the trapped dove still lay. She grasped the injured bird and flew to the low lying branches of a nearby Palo Verde tree. At about five feet away the raptor peered over its hooked bill and with a penetrating stare faced me again locking eyes without emotion, expression or an apology, and then in a moment was gone.
I was devastated. Lord, what was my prayer all about? Doesn’t your Word say you answer our prayers, you care about life? What just happened? Once again, I prayed and asked the Lord to explain. I asked Him to show me the greater meaning of what looked like an unanswered prayer. This event was clearly a revelatory moment, and I had missed the greater meaning. All day long, I lamented the obvious death of that unfortunate bewildered dove. I did not see the bird being stabbed, struck or ripped apart, yet I understood that the hawk must kill in order to survive.
Admittedly, I was mad at God for the better part of the day. Moved to tears, I kept praying and seeking the answer to my question.
I know every Christian has at least one life event where the question, “Why Lord?” seems to go unanswered. Yet we are encouraged in The Bible to continue to seek Him. (Matthew 7:7).
Personally, my life has one unanswered prayer that plagues me even today. When I say it is unanswered, I do not mean the Lord did not respond to my request. I mean He did not explain his response. But like all prayers, we must always remind ourselves God answers every single one. Perhaps His reply is not what we wanted. Maybe the answer was “No.” Sometimes, the answer is “Wait.” But whatever the outcome, we can trust God.
In her book, “40 Days to Freedom,” LaNora Van Arsdall says, “…that trust is even deeper than faith…” because, “…faith is based on His word and trust is based upon His character and nature.”
The word “trust” has nearly 24 different definitions listed in the dictionary, but is most recognized as meaning, “reliance on the integrity, strength or ability of a person, confidence in or hope for...” But how many of us will admit there are times when we are afraid to trust Him?
Scripture tells us to trust in Him at all times (Psalms 62:8). One of my favorite verses from Psalms 37:3-6 says:
Trust in the LORD and do good;
live in the land and be safe.
Seek your happiness in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desire.
Give yourself to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will help you;
he will make your righteousness
shine like the noonday sun.
--TEV
I have been joyfully married for seven years. The Lord’s blessing in my marriage is evident to anyone who knows me well. I could not have asked for a better friend or a more godly man to be my life partner. I thank the Lord daily for His goodness to me. But the one unanswered prayer that I never doubted would be fulfilled has in fact become my life’s biggest regret.
About 14 years ago before my engagement, a prophet came to a conference hosted at Grace Chapel. He called me out of the congregation and gave me a “word” saying, God was preparing my husband even now, and that I would be the mother of many spiritual children, as well as children from own womb. I did not see the outcome of that prophesy for another seven years.
Frankly, it never occurred to me this prophecy would not be fulfilled with my own diapered bundle of joy. When I first met Gary, I was not interested in becoming the mother to his two grown children. And they made it clear that they did NOT need another mother. Again, I did not fear, because I felt in my spirit I would one day have my own precious child to love.
Unfortunately my life-long prayer was not to be. Doctors, specialists and other medical professionals have all told me I cannot have children. It was a hard truth to accept, but there it is! Through a fluke in medical science, a once thought safe and prescribed birth control method has made me sterile. Even now, I find it hard to believe. Of course I asked the Lord “why,” but the answer has not been forth coming. Still I don’t doubt that one day, I will know and understand why this had to happen. In spite of my tears, I trust you Lord!
Later that night, while trying to explain the misfortune of the innocent dove to my husband, I believe the Holy Spirit placed the answer to the question “why” in my heart.
The Spirit told me, the dove was so badly injured, broken up inside, that to end its life was the most merciful thing to do. At the time, it had not occurred to me the hawk was God’s answer to my prayer. Yet, now the miraculous and unexpected appearance of the hawk leaves me with no uncertainty; the hawk was sent by the Lord.
Hawks have amazing eye sight; up to eight times sharper than humans and are said to be able to see as far as 15 to 20 miles away. Oh how often I have wished for the ability to see 15 to 20 years in the future.
Each eye has a field of view equivalent to 150 degrees. Their eyes also have an overlapping field of view which means their brain receives two sets of messages for the same picture, thereby allowing them to instantaneously calculate speed and distance which is a critical skill when hunting prey. Again, how I wish I could view things, like a hawk, with the same commitment to vigilance and a nearly 360 degree perspective.
Once I repented, the Spirit said, “Not every answer to prayer will come in the way you think it should. But it WILL always come.”
Like the hawk, out of no where, I believe the answers and the reasons will come. But we must trust God. I am not like those dim-witted birds which constantly fly into glass only to be thrashed to the ground and left bewildered. And if by some life event, I find I have flown into a wall, I can do more than shake off my foolishness and fly away. I can commit my fears, hopes and despair to the Lord. As the Word encourages us in Proverbs 3:5-8:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
--NIV
I will not soon forget the tender dove that patiently waited for what was most likely a ghastly and frightening end. But I will always remember her precious and sacrificial lesson to trust the Lord!
