Living on a hill in central Montana, wind has become a familiar friend, that we expect will stop by every now and again. Most days, the wind comes softly and gently rustles the tall grass on the top of the knoll. Other times, we can see it blowing through the valley, and once is reaches us, you can feel the power of its force as it presses against the windows, causing them to bend with each blow. Wind can come alone and other times it can bring rain, snow, or hail. Whether alone or accompanied by something, wind changes things. Wind causes movement and stirring among the land. God used the east wind to turn the Red Sea into dry land (Exodus 14:21-22). Currently, we are seeing a shifting of winds that are changing our normal and changing our circumstances as quickly as the winds change on our land.
I felt the Lord press into my heart that as believers in a changing of winds season, it is imperative that we do not crumble in fear and trembling, but to trust God amid the shifting. When Ezekiel looked out over a valley of dry bones, they were breathless, and God said to Ezekiel, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”(Ezekiel 37:9). After Ezekiel commanded this over the bones, they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:10). Can you picture the body of Christ, not crumbling under the pressure of changing circumstances, but rising as a vast army? An army that is planted firmly on the Rock of Ages. An army that is a light in the darkness, and one that proclaims truth in love. The ones that do not fear, but know where our help comes from?
Winds can bring changes of good and changes of bad, but most of us have experienced the rough winds that are so harsh, they tend to knock us down at times. I’ve seen friends, family and we have experienced in our own lives, harsh winds that seem difficult to get back up after they have swept through. I feel so strongly, that not only do we get back up, but we get up stronger than when we went down. Did you know that a palm tree was designed by God to not break during ferocious winds, but to grow in the midst of it? This is great faith-to not break in the changing of winds, but to grow in our love, desire and even dignity of who and whose we are. During storms, branches are lost, leaves will cover the ground, but the roots are still planted securely. Tough winds hurt and change things, but as our roots grow deep, the pruning deepens a need for God that reflects to a hurting world there is hope and peace in His strength through us.
Today, I am challenged to once again center my focus on God, even in the unknowns; in the changing of times and seasons. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8). There are some things that we cannot explain, but what we do know is that anyone born again into the family of God is set-apart and must rise in faith in difficult times. We do not know where it will blow and what will come next, but we do know the Rock that we stand on that is higher than I. We are the only reflections of God there is to a non-believer. Let us act accordingly and stand together as a mighty army. Let us declare the goodness of God in the changing of winds and praise Him for the great things He has done and will do.
Emily Rodewald 