Have winds pushed against you?
Power and resistance thrust back at me as I slipped out of my office to pick up lunch this week. Overwhelmed by an intriguing force of curiosity and risk, I drove straight to the beach a few blocks away.
Gales traveling across a hundred or more miles of water created 15-foot ocean-like waves on Lake Michigan, engulfing the piers we take delight in evening walks in other seasons. I steadied my posture on the dune, summoning up courage over the little power I had against the momentum. I dug in with ferocity…
as I have often done in life.
I believed the winds of adversity made me strong, confident and self-assured. And actually they did: externally. I could step into any situation with certainty and determination to push through with tenacity and independence. But it wasn’t so great for my soul.
Then grace entered in.
Breaking apart into the arms of Jesus required more of my strength than weathering the storms. But the shelter found in the shadow of His wings built a steady stance in me and a firmer, stronger foundation.
There will be times when storms hit your soul, when external forces dredge the tributaries of life.
Name them, give words to them instead of fighting against them. You don’t always have to be strong.