Consider the Birds

After all, you're worth more.

Have you seen the eagles?

No, not the reigning Super Bowl champions (sorry, Chiefs fans). And not the legendary rock band on their farewell tour.

I’m talking about Shadow and Jackie, the famous bald eagles of Big Bear Lake, and their newly hatched chicks—broadcast live for the world to see on YouTube.

Technology is incredible.

Apparently, this livestream has been running for years, but this month has been especially exciting. Three chicks hatched in early March, and people everywhere have been watching their tiny lives unfold in real-time.

Maybe I'm just late to the party, but when my wife showed me this livestream a few weeks ago, I could not stop checking in. The Friends of Big Bear Valley have done an amazing job giving us a front-row seat to eagle family life. With two different camera angles and a daily log¹ (with time codes) of key moments, we get to see Jackie nestling the chicks, feeding them, and taking occasional breaks while Shadow swoops in to deliver fish and other meals.

In just a short time of watching, we’ve seen them nurture their babies, weather a snowstorm, and even grieve the loss of one of their chicks.

Every time I pull up the stream, I can’t help but think of Jesus’ words here in Matthew:

"Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?"²

Matthew 6:26 LEB

This livestream has been helping me do exactly that—consider the birds. And as I reflect on Jesus’ words, here’s what I’ve noticed.

"...they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."

Jesus says the birds don’t sow, reap, or store up food like we do. But that doesn’t mean they just sit back and wait for dinner to drop from the sky.

Have you ever seen an eagle snatch a fish from the water? It takes natural ability. It takes instinct. It takes sharp talons, quick reflexes, and practice. It also takes necessity. An eagle hunts because it has to.

It’s easy to look at that and think, Well, aren’t they doing all the work? But where does that ability come from? Who gave them those instincts? Who designed them with everything they need to thrive?

The harvest, whether it’s fish in a lake, wheat in a field, or provision in our lives, always comes from God.

God provides, but He also invites us to participate. He designed the world to work in such a way that we labor, we gather, we steward. And in that process, we trust Him. When the storms come, when things don’t go as planned, when tragedy strikes, He is still our provider. Sometimes through abundance. Sometimes through the generosity of others. But always, always through His faithfulness. After all:

“You crown the year with your bounty;

your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”³

Psalm 65:11 ESV

But here’s the part that really gets me.

"Are you not worth more than they are?"

Jesus doesn’t just tell us to consider the birds to learn about God’s provision. He asks a question. It’s a rhetorical question, but I don’t think we always believe the answer.

If God so carefully provides for these eagles—giving them everything they need to survive and flourish—how much more will He do the same for us, the ones He made in His image, the ones He called to rule creation alongside Him?

How often do we doubt that we are truly worth more? How often do we feel unworthy of God’s care? How often do we compare ourselves to others—feeling like we’re falling behind, not spiritual enough, not good enough?

Jesus is speaking the truth here.

You are worth more.

Not because of what you produce. Not because you’ve earned it. But because God says so.

Your sin, your past, and your struggles do not disqualify you from being a worthy member of the family of God. All that's required of you is surrender.

You are worth the life of His Son. Of course, He is going to provide for you. Of course, He is going to go before you. That doesn’t mean things will always be easy or that suffering won’t come—the eagles even experienced loss. But it does mean that we are never alone in the struggle.

So, friend, let’s consider the birds this week. Let’s remember that the God who feeds them, who clothes the fields in beauty, and who provides for all creation is the same God who calls us His own.

May you rest in what the Lord has gathered around you. And may you know, deep in your soul, that you are worth it.

I was reminded of a particular verse at church this last week, and it feels like a fitting end to my posts going forward. So, I’ll roll with it.

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!”⁴

Psalm 90:17 ESV

Peace be with you, friends.

1. This link takes you straight to the live document that volunteers keep updated throughout the day. It’s a great companion for watching the livestream, and I highly recommend going back to certain time codes and seeing all the fun that happens.

2. W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 6:26.

3. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 65:11.

4. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 90:17.