When the Winds Blow

When you’re in the journey of faith long enough, you learn that there are not only natural storms but spiritual storms as well. Just like a natural storm, a spiritual storm can create such strong winds and rain that the duo will knock you right off your feet and you find yourself falling flat on your face. The very first spiritual storm I experienced did just that to me. I found out the man I loved and was planning on spending the rest of my life with, had cheated on me and decided to break up with me. This information blind-sided me as I had so much pride in our relationship that I put my confidence in us, instead of in God. I found myself on my face crying out to God for Him to change the turn of events which were rapidly unfolding in my life. Thankfully, He did not, however He instead caused those turn of events to work for my good.

I can honestly say I have been forever changed for the better…

That first storm was probably the most devastating, because at the time my relationship was an idol and I held it more tightly in my heart than anything on the earth. When it ended, I felt as if my life had also ended. But God not only healed me, He also used my pain to propel me further into my destiny.

He is merciful.

The next storm in my life was that of when my grandmother passed away and actually took place in the midst of my heartache. I was so convinced that God would heal her this side of eternity that I even made a list in my journal of all of the reasons why I knew she would be healed. Yet after a year of fighting, she lost the battle with cancer. Although strong in my faith, I was naive in the ways of God, not understanding that lest a seed should die, can much fruit be born from it (John 12:24). I remember standing in the kitchen, doing dishes, grieving from losing her and I felt God’s Spirit say “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD”. Well, that was a tough pill to swallow. I could barely feel the floor under my feet and yet God wanted me to trust Him to hold me up more than that floor.

The grief and sorrow were too much for me to bear, and so He bore them for me (Isaiah 53:3, 1 Peter 5:7) .

So much so that I was able to minister the word from the pulpit to those who attended her funeral. Afterward, I led a young woman to Christ.

I once had a dream where there was a huge storm coming, and God’s word was that the storms would come, however He would keep me through them. He has been faithful to His word. He has used adversity to mold me and shape me and strengthen the weak places in my heart and my character.

These days I can’t say that I am experiencing the storm directly, but I’m watching those near and dear to me be tossed to and fro, and as a result I feel as if I am being tossed. Life can throw some crazy scenarios at us. We can look left, right, up, and down and feel as if the storm is all around us, over-taking us. But when the storm came and the desciples were in the boat freaking out, Christ said “PEACE BE STILL” (Mark 4:39).

It’s easy to go off our natural sight and become fearful, worried, and stressed when the waves are rolling in, but to really ride out a good storm, the best way is to rest in His Peace, because as in this example, the storm will always pass.

God has seated us in heavenly places so that we are not of this world however we are still in it. In other words, we are eternal beings who happen to be having a human experience. We can feel hurt, pain, and heartache and yet we have the advantage of directing the eyes of our hearts to Him and replacing sorrow with an eternal perspective. This perspective is filled with PEACE, JOY and LOVE, in the midst of the rain lashing around us. We must remember that although we have a worthy adversary, and he wants to sift us as wheat, Christ has already prayed for us. He has already overcame so that we can now overcome. He has spoken to the storm so that we can now speak to the storm “PEACE BE STILL”.

SHALOM