THE LORD’S INTENTIONS FOR US

A gardener once observed a bird trying to build a nest on a pile of broken branches from an apple tree. When the bird flew away, the gardener went and destroyed the bird’s nest. The next day, the bird attempted again to build its nest on the same pile of brittle, broken branches. The gardener once again went and destroyed it. The next day, he saw the bird building its nest on one of the other trees in his garden. He looked up, smiled, and left the bird alone. It must have seemed to the poor bird that the gardener was the cruelest man in the world. But the gardener knew that he would soon have to burn the pile of cut branches, and if he left the nest there, the bird and its young would also burn with the waste.

We do not always understand the meaning of our life’s difficulties. We may ask questions like: “Why does God not answer my prayers by removing these troubles and difficulties from me?” One perspective to always keep in the forefront of our minds is that we only see a part of the picture, but God sees the whole panorama. He loves us and knows what is good for us, even if it is painful at the time. He also understands our feelings, and that is why He does not ignore or reject us when we are upset and rebel against Him. Instead, He wants us to turn to Him with all our hearts and discover the depth and greatness of His perfect love.

Let us trust our Lord God, Who thinks about us and our well-being. He is with us – Emmanuel. He protects us and gives us hope and a future. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan