It’s almost summer. Time to open the swimming pool. As we pulled off the old cover—worn and beginning to tear in places—I was shocked. The water was brown! An awful shade of brown. What had happened over the winter to cause this mess???

A quick check of the internet revealed the problem. “The brown staining in your pool is probably caused by oxidized iron which is getting in your pool from the well.” Made sense. –I’ve been having problems in the house with dingy water—Guess all that water we put in the pool last summer from the well oxidized over the winter.

Notes to self: Big expense to fix. Another headache. What to do.

The next morning I sat down in a fretful mood. It was shortly after dawn, and as I opened my Bible and devotional books, I was whiny. The sight of the brown pool below my window was disgusting. The problem was bigger than 30,000 gallons of brown water in what looked like a cesspool. I needed either a very, very expensive water treatment system or a new well. Neither alternative was attractive.

I began to pray, “Lord, I’m in a bit of a mess here. What should I do?”

When I opened my journal, he gave me his answer. The scripture at the top of the page literally jumped off the page at me:

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

“Oh, Father. I need You to calm my fears. I do.”

As his very presence began to quiet my soul, I began to ponder the last part of the verse and asked myself a question: Just how does He rejoice over us with joyful songs? Is that real or just spiritual?

Then I heard it! The birds and the crickets and the ducks on the lake were waking up. They were warming up their beautiful voices. It was like a heavenly choir. As the sky turned pink and orange and yellow, the curtain rose on a new day–just like it has for thousands of years. The heavenly choir—the Lord’s angelic voices—broke the dawn.  It sounded like a symphony. For over an hour I heard them, and then they quieted as if the Conductor had lowered the baton. The last few voices faded. The concerto was over until tomorrow.

Oh, the calm I felt! Yes, the Lord does “rejoice over you with joyful songs.” He does calm our fears. The problem is we don’t pause long enough to see, hear, or listen to what is going on around us. We are too consumed with the problems—big and small—in our lives.

A familiar passage came to mind:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:25-26, 34 NLT)

An overwhelming sense of calm filled my spirit. The Lord was looking after those birds, and they were singing their hearts out, seemingly in praise to Him. They weren’t worried about tomorrow—and I shouldn’t be, either.

What’s 30,000 gallons of brown water? The Lord who made the water can surely make it clear!

“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:25-27 NLT)

How about you? Have you heard the heavens singing lately? Has the Lord comforted you in your distress and troubles with music from his creation? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Many blessings!