Winds

"He  got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!  Be Still!"  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."  Mark 4:39  (NIV)

Lying in my bed with the window slightly cracked, I heard the wind.  It was the wind of autumn.  The wind seems different in autumn to me.  Maybe it includes a bit of a chill as compared to the wind of summer.  Maybe it includes a smell of the leaves.  Yet, it even seems to sound different.  Almost like a calling of, "It's time".  It's time to slow down a little, and actually listen to the wind.  It's time to enjoy all that autumn brings.  

Winds can bring so many things into our lives.  Many times, we see the "winds of life" as being the activities that come into our lives that can turn our worlds upside down.  Maybe it is the wind of a health concern.  Maybe it is the wind of job issues.  Maybe it is the wind of relationships.  So many times, the winds that comes into our lives create anxiousness and anxiety.  

This was the case of the disciples while they were on the water with Jesus.  All in a boat heading out across the water.  Jesus rested.  I'm sure with all the teaching, healing, preaching, etc., that Jesus did, there probably wasn't a lot of time for that.  Yet, He rested.  While on the water, a storm began brewing and the winds were coming into the disciples lives.  They called upon their teacher, their friend, their Lord, and He rebuked the winds, told them to "be still", and it became completely calm.

I love this Bible story as it teaches us so much:

• As believers, the winds of life will stir up our lives.  We are not immune to difficult times.
• As believers, we don't have to endure the winds of life alone.  
• As believers, our first call should be to The One who can calm our winds.  This is an area I consistently need to work on.
• As believers, we need to have simple faith that Jesus will calm our winds, when it is time.  So often, I want Him to calm my winds during MY time - we certainly know better!
• As believers, we need to respond to Him calming our winds with thanks and praise.

The winds of life will blow.  They may knock us off our feet.  Yet, we have One who will not only stand beside us during these times, but will calm the winds.  We need to go to Jesus during these times and watch the goodness He can bring to us.  Have faith, simple faith, that Jesus can calm our storms.

Dearest Jesus, how often we forget when the wind rolls into our lives that the One who can truly calm our storms is a prayer away.  May we reach out to you, Jesus.  Fill  our hearts and our heads with the simple faith that you are waiting to hear from us, and that you will making "everything still".  Jesus, I ask that you calm the winds of those that are facing fierce winds in their lives.  Help them to reach out to you so that you may help them.  In your wondrous name I pray, Amen!