Dolly Mink: Years of experience in Christian leadership and service have given Dolly Mink a unique perspective, and she is eager to share her observations, insights, and words of encouragement to the women of Virginia. Dolly seeks to accomplish this through teaching, training, and writing. In addition to her role with the SBCV, she leads women’s Bible study at River Oak Church in Chesapeake, where she and her husband are members, and she writes short stories and blogs at 
When we were on vacation last month, one of the things I wanted to do the most was to repeat the experience of listening to the birdsong at the inn where we stayed. The last time we were there, we were just coming out of the Covid lockdown. The sheer cacophony of music was overwhelming, like God’s creation was bidding “Welcome!” to all within earshot, and I have longed to hear it again.
In anticipation of the experience, my husband downloaded an app that identifies the types of birds that are singing, chirping, squawking, and screeching. It’s amazingly efficient, and the results will surprise you. I used it the other day on my back porch, and I heard a bird that I have yet to see, but I have wanted to for so long: an indigo bunting.
I sat there, amazed that the bird was near enough that the phone could pick up the song, yet it remained totally undetected. It was then that the Holy Spirit began to guide my thoughts to ponder what else was out there that I had been longing to experience, yet I had not stopped to be quiet enough to listen.
The Book of Isaiah reminds us that: “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Isaiah 45:3
We don’t know what treasures God has hidden from us. But we can trust that He has left them, these secret blessings from a God Who loves us and Who created us in His own image, and who would know us well enough to leave us something specific and special.
That unseen bird was a symbol to me of so many of the treasures that the Lord has hidden from me—things that are blessings from Him, yet in my haste and oblivion I may have completely ignored or overlooked.
It wasn’t until I sat, quiet and waiting, that He revealed that treasure through the technology He allowed.
Just as God placed scales over Saul’s eyes (Acts 9) to help him focus on Jesus as the Messiah, I pray He will continue to remind be to “be still and know.” I needed that reminder to trust that He has treasures for me that I still haven’t discovered.
As we grow in our sanctification, as we strive to become more like Jesus, let us remember that there are still “hidden treasures” that we only now may be mature enough to discover and appreciate. He’s not done with us yet.
