For All the Ravens Who Carry Hope and Encouragement

For All the Ravens Who Carry Hope and Encouragement

Posted on by Michele Morin

This morning I received a text message from a friend. Far from profound, its point was simple inquiry: “How is your week going?
You had a busy weekend.
Praying for you.”

The gift of concern was carried on words.
We’re uniquely gifted in this era of electronic communication. Without stamps or ink or a footstep outside our snug homes, we can send encouragement winging.

My friend’s message reminded me of the ravens who served as messengers in the Old Testament. Noah tossed a raven out of the ark to fly over the desolation in search of a hopeful landing place.

Elijah’s ravens brought nourishment to the prophet while he was hiding by the brook Cherith. We do the same for one another when we take the time to write or speak words of hope and encouragement to friends and family. Like Elijah’s ravens, Spirit-motivated encouragement shows up at just the right time as messengers carrying God’s provision.

Readers, you are a continual source of inspiration. Some of you are fellow writers who regularly offer up your words, perhaps wondering if anyone is out there reading.  This poem is for the message senders, the inspiration bearers, and the friends who notice a need:

Thank You to the Ravens

When your words land
Like downy feathers,
When they  nourish like bread and meat,
I find strength to make my way to the Brook,
To drink deeply,
To be refreshed where God has placed me.

So, dear Ravens, when you have been tossed out of your Ark,
Sent forth from your cherished place of safety
To take wing over some flooded and desolate place,

Fly!

Keep going to and fro over the waters,
And know this:

Although your mission may not be clear —
No fresh-growing olive leaf in sight for you to pluck
As evidence of your flight —
Someone waits for you.
Some God-loved but wingless soul,
Uncertain about life and food,
Body and clothes—
Some watching, Word-starved worrier
Will consider your carefree flight,
Will hear Spirit-wind in your timely fluttering,
Will cease her empty striving,
Will seek His kingdom and do the Word of the Lord —
Because you took flight.

Holding You in the Light,

We’re uniquely gifted in this era of electronic communication. Without stamps or ink or a footstep outside our snug homes, we can send encouragement winging.

Free Encouragement in Your Inbox!

On the third Thursday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where everything lands first.

CLICK HERE to read my most recent newsletter where you’ll be given the opportunity to subscribe. I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and I want to help you along that path.

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Photo by Alexandr Rusnac on Unsplash

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four married sons and a growing fleet of adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

29 thoughts on “For All the Ravens Who Carry Hope and Encouragement”

  1. How lovely is this! When I finally made peace with the reality that I am only a sower, not a harvester, I plant seeds and someone else, more qualified; will come along and reap, I also realized that all I have to do is be true to Him and let Him decide who or whether my words should make roots and bloom. Sometimes they do, sometimes not so much, but it is way okay. You are always an inspiration to me. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  7. This is timely. I came upon two ladies at church today who were both caring for their mothers, and one pulled me into the conversation because she knew I had cared for my mother-in-law at home. I’ve often regretted that I didn’t have a better heart attitude about being a caregiver, but I’m so thankful now that God can use me to give a bit of encouragement along those lines from our experiences.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. And you’re a poet, too! Wow, Michele. Thank you for sharing these encouraging words this Sabbath. May encouragement be synonymous with each of our names, our work, our ministry, our writing, our loving, our serving.

    Like

  11. Amen and Amen! You write: “Some watching, Word-starved worrier
    Will consider your carefree flight,
    Will hear Spirit-wind in your timely fluttering,
    Will cease her empty striving,
    Will seek His kingdom and do the Word of the Lord —
    Because you took flight.”

    You, my friend, are a continual source of encouragement!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Oh Michele–your poem is most certainly Spirit-inspired, encouraging all the encouragers to keep flying, keep carrying bread. Thank you for putting pen-to-paper in order to present us with this gift!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. This is awesome! I know my gift is encouragement and I use it lavishly and spread it liberally/ Just the other day I used one of my favorites and it brought such joy into the lives of two women, who were complete strangers. I told them it was a good thing I was wearing my sunglasses because you ladies are dazzling! They both gasped and started giggling and told me thanks, I just made their day. When people have encouraged me, I can live on it for a week!

    Like

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