It seems that the whole nation has been hit by strong winds recently. Destructive winds bring loss. Winds of change are always difficult to handle. I was about to give this devotion on a recent conference call for Compassion International, and two of the participants brought up the strong winds before I even began my devotion.
What is our response when winds of destruction or change take us by surprise? Often it is fear, anger, or an attempt to try harder. The disciples tried to row harder against the wind, even though it was an impossible task (Mark 6:48). Ann Voskamp said this in her excellent blog post:
Trying harder only results in harder trials.
Self-striving nurtures self-hatred.
Do we try harder to order our lives? Do we try harder to accomplish something, to teach our children, to get children in poverty sponsored, or to study the Bible? It seems many people have said lately, “I’m going to try harder to read the Bible more often this year.” Does it seem that you make so much progress, and then the wind comes along and destroys it all? One thing is certain about wind: we can’t control it
When Jesus saw the disciples in the storm, he called out, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39, ESV) I wonder if He was saying this to the wind or to the disciples? Although scripture does indicate He was speaking to the wind — as my friend Jeff says, the Word is a double-edged sword, allowing for multiple meanings of one text. Surely Jesus was speaking to the disciples as well.
Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10, NIV)
I have written before about begging God to calm the storm of babies not sleeping through the night, and how God did not change my circumstances, but did calm the storm within me. God works in mysterious ways.
We received word this week that a friend’s brother had passed away, the second one within a years’ time. These are young men in their 20’s or 30’s. Our friend wrote, as his status on Facebook, simply, “I am broken.” This is what happens in the wind — things get broken. Think of the broken mast of a ship, for instance. And then what happens? The wind blows the ship where it wills. The apostle John put it this way:
The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:7-8, NIV)
So what should we do when the winds are blowing against us? Winds we can’t control? Winds of destruction, loss or change? Again, from Ann Voskamp:
Set back to the wind, and let His Spirit gently move you forward. Let His Spirit carry when feet are too weak to carry on…Set back to His Wind, and let Him fill your sail, your life.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)
I was reminded that Chuck Swindoll spoke of winds making a tree stronger, because the wind causes it to dig its roots deeper into the soil. So let the wind blow. Do you have any control over it anyway?
Finally, I have recently learned something about the meaning of the word “meekness.” The earliest use of it was for the horses that raced in the Circus Maximus of Ancient Rome. “Meekness” means great strength under the control of the Master.
James speaks of the tongue:
A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. (James 3:4, MSG)
Where does God want to take us in this trial or set-back, disappointment or loss? Ride with the wind and see where He takes you. He will be with you in the storm, and will calm either you or the storm (or both).
Sheep Droppings 