Journey with God

Did you know there’s a bird famous for holding the world record for the longest nonstop flight from Alaska all the way to Australia? It traveled over 8,000 miles in just 11 days! I stumbled upon an article about the Bar-tailed Godwit while mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, and I’ll admit, I didn’t know anything about this bird before.

These fascinating shorebirds escape the harsh winter for warmer climates. My first thought was, why don’t they just stop somewhere closer along the way? According to experts, stopping earlier often means landing in places with less food, more competition and predators, and poor habitats for their long bills. The Godwit’s long nonstop flight reduces these dangers.

Even more impressive, these birds begin preparing for their expedition several weeks in advance. They don’t need to eat during their journey because they gorge for 1 to 2 months before departure, building up fat reserves. A few weeks before migration, their digestive organs shrink to reduce weight for the flight. They even perform short test flights to prepare their bodies and align with weather patterns to catch the right wind currents.

Remarkably, the Godwit’s incredible sense of direction allows them to return to the same breeding and feeding sites year after year. No matter how far they fly or how long their trek, they find their way back. Isn’t God’s creation astonishing?

All of this got me thinking about our own journey with God. Sometimes the path He sets before us feels long. I’ve wanted to take matters into my own hands many times…like flying from Alaska to Hawaii instead of Australia! But trying to control a situation that is in God’s hands often leads to unnecessary confusion and danger. 

Psalm 55:22 reminds us to cast our burdens on the Lord, and He will sustain us. Not only does the Lord know our ultimate destination, but He also prepares and equips us to get there safely. Like the Godwit, which returns to the same sites, we are meant to keep returning to the Lord, trusting Him again and again, even when the path is hard or unclear. Each time we do, our faith is strengthened, and we are reminded that His guidance never fails and His provision is always there.