Listen for His Whisper

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

Heaven's Grace and Hummingbirds

One ordinary day, while doing laundry, I walked into my garage and noticed a tiny hummingbird darting frantically up and down the wall. I’ve always been fascinated by those little masterpieces of God—so delicate, so fast, so full of life. I paused for a moment just to watch him before returning to my chores.

Later, I came back to switch the laundry. He was still there. His wings were still beating at lightning speed, hovering in the exact same spot. I couldn’t imagine what on earth he was trying to accomplish. I went back inside, cleaned a little more, started another load. When I returned—on my third trip to the garage—that poor little bird was still trapped in the same frantic pattern.

That’s when I realized he couldn’t find his way out. So, I tried to help. I grabbed something red and waved it toward the wide-open garage door, hoping it would catch his attention. Nothing. I brought out the hummingbird feeder and placed it on the back of my car—surely food would lure him toward freedom. Still nothing. He kept flying straight into the wall.

Finally, I stepped back and watched him from inside the house through the window. And that’s when the whisper of God gently settled into my heart: How often do My children do the very same thing? How many times do we come up against a wall in life—frustrated, exhausted, desperate for relief—while God patiently shows us a way out… and we never see it? Or worse… we see it and keep flying into the wall anyway.

I thought about how much effort I was putting into rescuing that tiny bird—and how completely he was ignoring me. And I realized–sometimes, I do that to God. Still, I was determined to save him. I love hummingbirds. I couldn’t just let him flap himself to death. So, I grabbed a tennis racket and slowly tried to guide him toward the garage door. He moved—but then circled right back to the same spot as if the wall were a magnet pulling him in. My patience began to thin. My gentleness started to fade.

I added a broom to my rescue mission. Little by little, inch by inch, I finally nudged that stubborn little creature toward freedom. And if that hadn’t worked, I was fully prepared to throw a towel over him and straight-up bird-nap him. Once again, God whispered: Isn’t this just like My children?

How often do we insist on doing things our way… even when we feel His gentle nudges, His holy interruptions, His quiet instructions? How often do we keep struggling, striving, exhausting ourselves—when He is standing right there trying to lead us out?

If I hadn’t intervened, that hummingbird would have flapped himself to death. Isn’t it something to think about—how often God intervenes in our lives in ways we will never fully know? How many dangers were stopped. How many disasters were diverted. How many times mercy stepped in without announcement.

I believe one day, when we stand before Him and finally see the full picture, we will fall at His feet overwhelmed by the love we barely recognized while we lived inside it. And with tears and awe we will cry: “Holy, holy, holy…”

Scripture tells us:

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”— Proverbs 16:25 (KJV)

We don’t have all the answers. We never have. And we never will. God’s ways are higher. His plans are wiser. His perspective is eternal. So why do we insist on settling for our small plans when the King of Kings has His best in mind? Why do we cling to control when surrender leads to freedom?

Let me ask you this, dear one…

Is there something in your life you have tried—and tried—and tried—to fix on your own– something that feels like a wall you keep hitting over and over again? What if your way isn’t the way out?

Scripture reminds us:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”— Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)

God’s counsel is as close as a whisper. His help is as near as a prayer. And His grace is far stronger than our stubborn wings. Sometimes freedom is waiting just a few inches in a new direction.

A Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,Forgive us for the times we strive in our own strength instead of trusting Your guiding hand. Help us to hear Your whisper, to recognize Your ways, and to follow when You lead us toward freedom. Teach us to surrender our plans for Yours, knowing that Your will is always higher, wiser, and filled with love. We trust You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotional Takeaway:Sometimes the wall we keep flying into is not our destiny—it is simply the place where God is inviting us to trust Him enough to turn and follow His way out.

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This blog was taken from my book, Listen for His Whisper, a free download.