It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.
As I step outside, the door slams open, wrenched out of my hand by the gust of warm wind whipping around the building. Electricity snaps in the air, causing my hair to fly around my face.
It wasn’t until I moved to Southern California, and experienced the Santa Ana winds, that I truly understood the power wind can wield. Tables and chairs skitter across our patio; wind chimes that normally create a fairy song in the breeze are hurriedly taken down before they blow away.
The wind literally takes my breath away with its wildness and ferocity; easily you can become disoriented and isolated.
My words have fallen flat for me these past couple of weeks. And I think that, right there, is the reason why…
M Y W O R D S
I’ve had trouble hearing “that other larger, stronger, quieter” voice. There has been a myriad of voices, swirling around in my head, electrifying my fears, doubts and insecurities. Recognizing them for what they are, I’ve tried to take every thought captive, but like the wind
they seem overpowering and unrelenting.
Just as I push one away, another comes at me. Even the thought of asking for help, prayer, encouragement brings on a fresh onslaught. The worry that weariness will set in and rejection become the end result causes a pause that isolates.
And so on, all day, I shove back the wind. It slips through the cracks and holes, piling up grime and wreaking havoc. Slowly I tire of the battle, and long to give in, to let it whirl around me and cut me off with its force and roar.
::
Peter was afraid of the wind. He saw his Savior, stepped out in faith, and walked a little way.
Then the wind came.
Fear and doubt overwhelmed him, and he began to sink.
he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him… {Matthew 14:30b-31a}
Therein lies my hope:
Peter walked on water.
Jesus took hold of him.
The wind may be rushing around me, but that means I’m walking the path of obedience.
And, all I need to do is call out, “Lord, save me,” to find His strong hand holding me.
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD. {Psalm 31:24}
Resting in Him is like coming in out of the wind…
0 Responses
Encouraging word, Melissa. It was interesting to picture both wind and rest in my mind just now. So I can rest in God…while there is strong wings around me? Now that is a refreshing thought. Thanks!
I’m glad you found this encouraging! 🙂 I know God encouraged me through it. Haha!
Melissa…I just posted this very quote on Moe’s blog the other day. But, it’s so relevant to your post, that I’ll say it again. Ps. Frank shared this past weekend: Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes God calms me in the midst of the storm.
And, yeah, I have to share another song with you. he he he
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf2YJAG84_8
Praying you find peace and rest in Him today, my friend.
“Give me grace to see beyond this moment…”
What a great line! 🙂 This song totally blessed me today, Keri! Thank you. Really.
All of us going through life together and being in this jam together is what gives me hope. I read your words about weariness and rejection and say “Me too!” Now, my hope is stronger because of your words here. I’m not alone. I’m so glad you put this in the jam today. I’m refreshed to be me.
Oh, Jeri. I’m so glad you said that. I was feeling so nervous about this post, because I hate to talk about this battle. I don’t want people to 1) feel sorry for me or 2) grow weary of my struggle with it. The fact that it was an encouragement to you is an encouragement to me; that’s why I share it.
What a wonderfully, encouraging post. I just forwarded it to my husband because I want to make sure he is finding his hope in God today. Thank you!
I hope it is an encouragement to him. 🙂 Thanks, Heidi!
I don’t mind the winds if Jesus is with me. Problem is that often times I see the winds as if they are stronger than me. Most times they are, but they are not bigger than Jesus. I rejoice when I see that the winds obey His voice.
Nice place you have here Melissa. Mind if I put my feet up in your coffee table (add to rss feeds)?
I’m honored! 🙂
You’re comment about the winds being stronger than me, but not bigger than Jesus…love it! It’s like having a big strong friend to back you in a fight. 🙂 Glad you stopped by, Moe.
That’s it, Melissa. The only way to beat the wind is to come into the shelter. I told someone else recently that I feel such a peace whenever I meditate on or speak about the shelter of His wings. He’s so gracious to us. Thanks Melissa.
I really don’t think I fully understand this concept…because I have to keep reminding myself of it. I am hoping someday that it becomes instinctual to just rush to His shelter, rather than try to fight it out on my own.
“they seem overpowering and unrelenting.”
Oh man…do I know this. My mind has been a battlefield for many, many years and when I try to push in the enemy strikes back hard with thoughts of things that haven’t been in my mind for years. It helps me clean them out but if I allow myself to dwell on one of those thoughts it can blow my entire evening.
Great post Melissa.
I never thought of it that way, Jason. It’s like Satan popping up those old memories is actually a good thing, a purification system. 🙂 Way to thwart the plans of the enemy.
I love your example of hope. There are so many times in scripture that we can see hope–if we’re looking. I so want to get better at hoping. Thanks for sharing.
I did a word search on “hope” in Crosswalk.com’s bible study tools, and I was amazed at all of the scriptures. It was encouraging just to read through all of them. 🙂 I too want to get better at this…
so many lines of this post resonated deeply within my own heart. . .
‘There has been a myriad of voices, swirling around in my head, electrifying my fears, doubts and insecurities…they seem overpowering and unrelenting.’
i was just discussing this reality in my own life today. . .with close friends and with the Lord. i am still uncertain how you parse out wisdom from well meaning voices from words of their flesh-dwelling hearts. i often feel as if the ‘pushing’ of me in one direction or the other is incredibly overpowering and always unrelenting. how i long for others to take me where i am and allow the Lord’s voice to be the only one that overwhelms my decision making and walking out of this life. . . and just like you, my friend, ‘slowly I tire of the battle, and long to give in, to let it whirl around me and cut me off with its force and roar.’ and leaning into Him and allowing His wind to be bend and break our sinful hearts is the most difficult and painful working out of our sanctification here on this earth.
‘The wind may be rushing around me, but that means I’m walking the path of obedience.’
thankful for this truth and this reality. . .that the wind doesn’t mean i am wrong. it doesn’t mean that because i have meet resistance i am walking in the wrong direction but just the opposite. . .
so thankful for this post friend. . .somehow i think this one will be re-read many times by me as i stand with the wind whipping all around. . .
To answer you question, I think that the way we know whether someone is giving us wisdom from the Lord or well-meaning advice is through the presence of the Holy Spirit. People can come up with some great advice for us, but when it’s prophetic or God-driven, it resonates in our soul with what the Holy Spirit has already been whispering to us. Not to imply that it’s bad to listen to people’s good advice, but our main goal is to stay tuned in to the nudges of the Spirit. From your recent blog posts, I can tell that is the direction you’ve been going.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” John 10:27
Recognize His voice, regardless of who is speaking. 🙂
I find hope when I remember what God did in the past. I definitely review what he did for Peter and so many others that are recorded in the Bible. I also remember where he has come through for me–repeatedly. From there hope grows and holds on.
I used to criticize the Israelites as I read through their history in the OT; how could they be so fickle and forget how God had dealt with them in the past. Then I found myself doing the same thing and realized how easily I can get amnesia in a moment of crisis. It is so good to remember His previous actions toward myself and through those amazing stories in the Bible. It really is a constant source of comfort and encouragement. 🙂