How a Bird in My Garden Showed Me God’s Plan for Your Life

Today, I want to talk about something that is crucial in our Christian journey—perseverance. 

We often hear about the need to persevere, whether in sports, in our careers, or in our personal goals. But what does it mean to persevere in our faith? How do we keep going when things get tough, when our prayers seem unanswered, or when the challenges of life weigh us down? 

I’d like to begin by pointing us to Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26, NIV). It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it? Jesus invites us to pause and reflect on the natural world, reminding us that if God cares for the birds, he will certainly care for us. 

A few weeks ago, I found myself doing exactly that—watching the birds in my garden. I observed them carefully and realised there’s a powerful lesson in their simple perseverance. Despite the wind, the rain, and the challenges they face in their little world, the birds keep going. They persevere in their daily task of finding food, trusting in God’s provision. It struck me then: perseverance isn’t about charging ahead in our strength, but about trusting God’s provision in every season. 

Perseverance in Scripture 

Perseverance is a theme we see time and time again in the Bible. One of the clearest examples is the Apostle Paul. Now, if anyone had an excuse to give up, it was Paul. He faced countless hardships—beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, rejection—but he never gave up. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” 

Paul knew that the Christian life was not a sprint but a marathon. He had his eyes fixed on the ultimate goal—eternity with Christ. He wasn’t distracted by the temporary setbacks or the pain he endured. Instead, he pressed on, confident that God had called him to something greater. 

Jesus himself spoke about perseverance. In Matthew 24:13, he says, “But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” Perseverance isn’t just a nice virtue—it’s essential to our walk with Christ. Without it, we risk turning away when things get difficult, as some of Jesus’ disciples did in John 6:66. After hearing a difficult teaching, many walked away and no longer followed him. They had seen the miracles, heard the sermons, and even experienced Jesus’ healing power, but when the call to deeper commitment came, they couldn’t persevere. 

Perseverance in the Face of Challenges 

Why is it that some people persevere while others give up? There’s a story I heard about a successful author who was asked why she made it when so many equally talented writers didn’t. Her answer was simple: “I didn’t give up.” Talent can only take us so far. It’s the grit, the determination, and the ability to push through the hard times that sets apart those who succeed. 

Now, in the Christian life, it’s not just about pushing through in our own strength. It’s about holding on to God’s promises and relying on his strength. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” Perseverance doesn’t mean we never feel weak or discouraged—it means we keep going, trusting that God’s grace will sustain us. 

We’re reminded of this truth even in the mundane. There’s a story I once heard about a football match where one team seemed destined to lose. They were down to the last minutes, exhausted, and yet, they didn’t give up. And in the dying moments, they scored the winning goal. How often do we find ourselves in situations where it feels like there’s no hope left? But in God’s kingdom, it’s often when we feel weakest, when we feel like giving up, that breakthrough is just around the corner. 

The Example of Jesus 

Of course, the ultimate example of perseverance is Jesus himself. In the Garden of Gethsemane, as he faced the cross, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus knew the suffering he was about to endure, and in his humanity, he asked if there was another way. But he persevered, submitting to the Father’s will. 

Jesus didn’t just persevere through physical pain—though that was unimaginable. He persevered in love. Even as he hung on the cross, bearing the weight of the world’s sin, he cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). That’s perseverance—enduring unimaginable suffering, not for his own sake, but for ours. 

When we reflect on what Jesus endured for us, it gives us the strength to keep going. It puts our own struggles into perspective. Yes, life is hard. Yes, we face challenges. But Jesus has already walked the road before us. He knows our pain, our weariness, and he invites us to come to him for rest: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). 

What Are We Persevering For? 

It’s important to remember that perseverance isn’t just about enduring for the sake of enduring. We’re pressing on toward a goal. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul talks about athletes who compete for a crown that will not last, but we are running a race for an eternal crown. What we are working towards is far greater than any earthly reward—it’s eternity with Christ. 

But there’s a temptation, isn’t there? Sometimes we find ourselves persevering in the wrong things. Like the wood pigeon I saw in my garden, we can expend a lot of effort trying to reach something that’s just beyond our grasp. The pigeon kept pecking at food it couldn’t reach, and in the end, it left frustrated. How often do we find ourselves in that position? Striving for things that, in the grand scheme of eternity, really don’t matter. 

That’s why it’s important to regularly ask ourselves: what am I persevering for? Am I focused on building my own kingdom, or am I pressing on toward God’s kingdom? 

There’s a well-known prayer that beautifully captures this idea: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” It’s a powerful reminder that perseverance isn’t about doing more, or pushing harder, but about doing the right things—those things that truly matter. 

Conclusion 

So, what does this mean for us today? How do we apply this to our lives? First, we need to remember that perseverance is a daily choice. It’s not a one-time decision—it’s something we commit to again and again, day after day. Whether we’re facing challenges in our families, in our work, or in our spiritual lives, we choose to keep going, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. 

Second, we need to stay focused on the right things. It’s easy to get distracted by the noise of the world, by goals that seem urgent but aren’t really important in the long run. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and let’s encourage one another to persevere in love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). 

Finally, let’s rest in the knowledge that we’re not running this race alone. Jesus is with us, and he has promised that his grace is sufficient for every challenge we face. So, let’s press on, not in our own strength, but in his. As Paul writes, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).