The day comes when the nest is behind them. Wings spread, the young bird glides into a world it has only watched from above. The first moments are clumsy — wingbeats uneven, balance still learning its rhythm. But the sky does not scold; it simply receives the bird, giving it space to try, to adjust, to find its strength.

It’s a truth written into creation: leaving the nest isn’t about perfection — it’s about readiness. A fledgling that hesitates forever will never discover what those wings can do. But one that leaps too soon may never recover from the fall. The right moment sits between those two dangers.

Our lives are often the same. We step into a new assignment, a fresh responsibility, or a territory unknown. We’ve prayed for the opportunity, prepared as best we can, and now the time comes to act. There’s no guarantee the first “flight” will be flawless — it rarely is. But it will teach us, shape us, and, with Jehovah’s help, strengthen us for the next stretch.

The prophet Isaiah captured this confidence: “Those hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not tire” (Isaiah 40:31, NWT). The bird’s trust in the air beneath it mirrors the believer’s trust in Jehovah’s sustaining power. Both find that strength not in their own ability alone, but in the One who provides the lift.

So, what’s your “sky” right now? Is there a step you’ve been preparing to take — one that seems equal parts thrilling and frightening? If you’ve waited on Jehovah’s timing, then when He opens the way, step forward. The same One who formed the curve of your growth also shaped the air to carry you.

Tags: trust, courage, spiritual growth, readiness, faith

References:

• Isaiah 40:31 (NWT)

• Pennycuick, C. J. Modelling the Flying Bird. Elsevier, 2008.

• Gill, F. B. Ornithology, 4th ed., W. H. Freeman, 2014.