Standing Strong When the Wind Blows

I was sitting on a bench in the warm sun earlier today enjoying the beautiful spring weather. I was in an open field surrounded by pines and what appeared to be maple trees. As the wind blew fairly gently bringing a slight chill, the dead leaves from the maple tree nearby rustled pretty loudly, I was taken back. I looked around and thought to myself “How could the wind make such a loud noise blowing through this tree when the rest of the trees in the park seemed pretty calm in comparison?” I continued to sit and soak up the atmosphere when again another pretty gentle wind came from another location of the park and brushed a different maple tree with the same dead leaves causing the same loud rustling. Then I realized, God was speaking a word to my heart with a visual understanding.

That which is dead or not in season, is easily tossed by the wind but that which is alive and in season stands strong.

Pine trees are alive all year round. The leaves on maple trees however, have a beautiful burst of color when the season changes and then they die and fall off. That which is dead or not in season is easily tossed by the wind but that which is alive and in season stands strong. The word of God says we ought to be ready in and out of season to share about the hope that we have in Christ. If we remain hopeful in Him and stay spiritually alive by walking with Him daily, and not serving our fleshly desires, we too can stand strong like a pine tree so that when the wind comes, we will not be shaken or moved.

This new life in Christ is a daily way of life. It is not something that comes and goes like a cultural trend or personal phase that we go through. Our life in Christ is comparable to a race but it is not a sprint, instead it’s more like a marathon. If we run our race full force like there’s no tomorrow, we can easily become burnt out or spiritually dull. We need to pace ourselves and stop for the living water who is Jesus, in order to replenish what was lost as we ran.

True Christianity is Christ like character cultivated over time.

There’s no fast and easy way to get physically fit and likewise, there are no shortcuts to spiritual health. True Christianity is Christ like character cultivated over time. It takes time invested, following Godly disciplines and constant surrender to our God who provides for our needs and renews our youth like the eagles. When we are spiritually strong in Him we won’t be tossed back and forth by the storms of life that blow through a seemingly perfect day. The wind will still blow but we won’t feel the effects of it so much and we will remain steady.

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:6