This past Saturday morning I heard what seemed like something tapping on the side of my home. I soon discovered that a major building project was in progress. The robins were making a nest over the lamp at my back door. The bird’s wings and feet generated the noise as the female carefully constructed a round nest of twigs, mud, grasses and even pieces of cloth and string to prepare for the eggs.

The robins have chosen the protection of the eaves of my home and warmth of the light for two years. When I examined last year’s project after the birds left, I realized how amazing it was. Where did the robins get a blueprint for the intricate project? Who taught the birds how to construct the nest? Where did they find the pieces of string and small cloth strips that protected the eggs from the sharp edges of the twigs?

Of course, the Internet had some interesting information. I learned that, although the male robin helps to collect the materials, the female robin weaves together most of the 350 twigs and grasses that are about 6 inches long. These are held together with hundreds of beakfuls of mud. What a construction project! The birds did not attend college classes on architecture. They can’t read a blueprint or write a “how to” manual for the next generation of robins either. I knew that only our Creator God gave the birds this instinctive ability.

I was reminded of two Scriptures as I thought about the birds’ project. The one is very familiar. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). At Creation, God gave those small robins unique construction abilities and the capacity to know the right place to build. Why? Simply because He created them and cares for them. We too are God’s creation, and His care for us as widows far exceeds His concern for the robins. If He provides food and a place of shelter and safety for them, certainly He will do that for us.

The second Scripture is from Hebrews. The writer quoted Jeremiah when he said, “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” (Hebrews 10:16 and Jeremiah 31:33). Jeremiah was saying that a day would be coming when God’s laws would not simply be written on a stone or a scroll, but God’s Word would be within us. The unknown writer of Hebrews is telling us that the day has arrived. Through accepting Christ as our Savior and then developing a relationship with God through His Word, the Holy Spirit can speak to us.

Right now you’re probably thinking, How do those Scriptures have anything to do with the birds? Well, I believe God’s Word can be in us as instinctive as the robins innately build their nests. If we study and memorize God’s Word, the Holy Spirit can bring to our minds those promises that God has given us. When we face difficulties—and as widows we face many, Scriptures that give us direction, strength, help, wisdom, courage, and even protection will come to our minds to replace fear, worry, doubt, and anxiety.

When we see birds’ nests this year, I hope we can remember God’s great care and how much He desires to meet our needs. May we desire to know God’s Word and claim His promises to carry us through our challenging days.