About the Author

Stephanie Bryant is the co-founder of @incourage and a podcaster at the #JesusLedAdventurePodcast. She owns a Marketing & Business Coaching company. She is passionate about guiding you to your promised land and personal brand therapy. She enjoys spending her days with her husband and their miracle daughter, Gabrielle, on #BryantFamilyFarm....

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. We had hens for a while, and we laughed at them, enjoyed them when they were cute and fluffy, and marveled at their hysteria.
    When my kids were all tiny, I actually saw myself (in a very unflattering light!) in one of the hens who would squawk, flap her wings, and have a fit whenever her chicks got too far away. Meanwhile, they completely ignored her. She helped me to remember that God takes care of chicks AND mama hens.

    • I’m so glad you can relate! Chickens are entertaining & have taught me so much about myself. And not in always the best moments. 🙂 Yes to God taking care of the Mama Hens, too. So thankful He does!

  2. Stephanie,
    It always amazes me how God can teach us so many lessons through His creation. Through your storytelling, I was right there watching those nervous mother hens. I remember, many times, feeling like a mother hen. Especially on 9/11, I distinctly remember wanting my chicks to be close at hand when eminent danger lurked. I don’t think that mother instinct ever goes away. Thank you for the reminder that God not only covers us with gentleness and refuge, but He can be fierce, furious, and jealous in His great love for us. He will stop at nothing to protect His own….even if we wander off like clueless chicks. Great life and faith lessons found on the farm today 🙂
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  3. “Our chicks are adorable but pretty much clueless.” I hope this is how God sees me…adorable and clueless!…lol. Thank you for sharing this colorful imagery of all that is FOR US under the wing.

    • Thank you for taking a moment to read my words. I can testify that you are adorable and God is completely FOR you!

  4. As the granddaughter of a farmer, I am always amazed how The Lord uses His creation to show us His fierce love for us. I remember roosters beckoning us out of bed at the crack of dawn, and isn’t that what God does everyday for us: telling us to rise and be excited for what He has in store for us each day? Mother hens are perhaps the most beautiful example of God’s intense love and protection for His “chicks.”

    Thank you for this beautiful illustration, Stephanie! Here’s to leaning in to our Heavenly Father, knowing He will protect us and love us with an everlasting love!

    Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

    Joy in Jesus,
    Lara

    • I love the idea of hearing our rooster, Rocky, as the Lord beckoning me out of bed to spend time with him!

  5. Awesome post Stephanie! Today as I sit for the 4 th day covered in poison ivy and realizing God wanted me to rest this out, since I’m a good listener but I cannot sit long enough to listen to direction from Him on most days! I’m enjoying the time I have with God now as I sit with swollen , crusty body parts!! I’m glad you love your “girls” that’s what my daughters and daughter in law who raise their hens for food and companionship call them.. I’ve seen them talking to them and when their in distress over a hen (or 3) being destroyed by a unfortunate animal attack, cuddling them and it amazes me of the love they give each other!
    God said it is good on all of His creation and isn’t it beautiful to us how He allows us to be one with Him and His creation everyday in our lives.. be it people, nature, or animals:) poison ivy even seems to have a place in the world, doesn’t it? I’m going to be looking for it a little bit better than before though!
    Looking forward to a great garden of flowers and hens in my mansion with God! Lol blessings to all your peeps and gals:)

    • I’m glad you could relate to the story about “my girls!” I pray you are healed from that nasty poison ivy! Enjoy your time with the Lord, even after you’re all well.

  6. I grew up with baby chicks and their fierce mamas. This brought back beautiful memories and joy filled days with the wonder of new life. Some things you just can’t learn from Google. Be blessed today all you wonderful mamas with baby chicks. Thank you for a great start to a new day.

    • I love how God uses sweet memories to bless us! You’re right, Google doesn’t replace experiencing God’s goodness through His world.

  7. Love this, Stephanie! Often I can think of wings as synonymous with feathers, like the loose, lightweight, scraggly things I sometimes find haphazard across my lawn. But wings are not flimsy — especially God’s! They are strong. His love and protection fierce and full, a complete covering. Such a powerful imagery. This will stick with me. Thank you, friend.

    • You’re too kind to read and comment on my words. God is always teaching me through the every day experiences of life. I kept thinking, just like encouragement is about God imparting courage into our spirits, His feathered wings are fierce, protective and at the same time loving. His kingdom is always opposite of what we first assume. Under His feathered wings, just like the wings above the ark of the covenant, It’s the spot where He dwells with us.

  8. Stephanie, Thank you for this illustration. I just read and prayed Ps 91 over my treasured very young grandchildren and have a little sign about being underneath His wings for our grandchildren. They have a special need for this from the Lord as the parents are very careless and irresponsible and cruel. So I have to cling to the promises of the Lord to do what only He can in ways I have no idea about. The Lord had this today to encourage me as some very big things are ahead.

    • Your comment keeps coming to my mind and I pray for your sweet grandchildren & adult children. What you shared makes the Spirit in me ache with grief. Children are such a gift from the Lord! God has excellent plans for them, despite their difficult situation. I will pray for a change of heart for their parents, for all to be rescued from the heart condition creating an unsafe home and God to receive all the glory from a fresh start, a healthy family full of love. Lord, protect these children while you change their environment & bring peace to all the hearts involved. I’m thankful God used my words to encourage you in this journey.

  9. Thank you for the picture of God love and protection. 🙂 I never thought of it in that way, neat!

  10. Stephanie,
    Thank-you for your thoughtful, shared words. I thought this might be written by you, even before I saw that it was. With all that surrounds us, God keeps us safe, and I’m so very thankful that He does.
    Have a blessed day all,
    Penny

    • Thank you, Penny, for being such a faithful reader. I guess I talk about farm life a lot. 🙂 It’s so different than the rest of the world and so much hands on teaching from the Lord.

  11. Love Love Love this post! I was so touched by it I was in tears. Such a beautiful picture of Gods never-ending love. Needed to hear this reminder, the timing was perfect. God is sooo good!! Thank you!! Thank you!! God Bless

    • YOU are loved and protected! Rest under His wings and listen to His voice as you grow.

  12. Trying not to cry! Even though I didn’t get to read this until now, it was perfectly timed. Bless you, Stephanie, for letting God speak through you! “God doesn’t rest or take a break in taking care of us.“ Thank You, Jesus!!!

    • He always has His eye on you, Pearl. Let the tears of joy come. Praise Him for His faithfulness in your life!

  13. I have a nest of baby birds outside the front door, I’ve enjoyed watching mam build, lay and then there were five little beaks open demanding to be fed. They have. just learned how to fly and are still so tiny. During the storm and at night they come right back.

  14. Stephanie,

    Thank you for the wonderful illustration. I find it amazing how God can teach us truths by using nature & animals. Just watching mother hens or other animals as they protect their babies is a powerful view of how God sees us. No one ever looses their mothering instincts. They always worry about their children no matter how old or far away they get. God is the same. He will leave a fold of 99 to search for the one missing lamb. He will carry us back on is loving shoulders. God desires to have us live in the shelter of His wings and find rest in Him. He wants to protect us from all the evil in this world. May we all find rest & peace under His wings.

    Blessings 🙂

  15. I loved reading this, as it reminded me of one of my favorite verses (Psalm 63:7) Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    Blessings to you. 🙂