“Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Surely you know! Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Proverbs 30:4-5 ESV
Dark clouds gathered. The winds grew stronger and wilder. Granny looked into the sky with a frown and said it was tornado weather. My sister and I ran back and forth in Granny’s front yard as she stood on the front porch watching the sky.
Shellye and I ran faster, hoping the wind’s wings would lift us for a short airborne ride. Granny’s frown deepened as she pointed to the darkened clouds above the skyline of downtown Dallas. The running stopped. We watched as funnel clouds formed and descended on the anxiously waiting city.
Acts 23 begins the story of the Apostle Paul’s arrest and eventual trial before Caesar in Rome for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 27, Luke, the physician and traveling companion to the apostle, wrote of the wild and changing winds that resulted in a shipwreck. He painted a dramatic picture with words and phrases that chronicled the progression of the ill-fated voyage from Jerusalem to Rome via a long layover in Malta:
– Opposing winds made progress almost impossible (27:4, 7)
– A deceptive, gentle wind (27:13)
– Tempestuous, insurmountable winds demanded surrender (27:14-15)
– Violent winds and waves tossed the ship, stole all hope, and took control (27:18, 20, 27)
– Winds of hope (27:40)
Changing winds are a constant in our lives. Whether it is winds of opposition, deceptively gentle winds, winds that make it impossible to move forward, or winds that threaten to destroy us, we all know these challenging winds.
Sometimes, the winds beat so vigorously against us that we feel utterly undone and helpless. We stop to hunker down, hoping to outlast the beatdown, or we may start running, hoping to escape the winds. Maybe our go-to response is to freeze in place, filled with panic, anxiety, or depression.
Whatever the cause—whether relationship- or circumstance-related, the origin of the winds is not the issue. Our response to the winds determines our forward progress.
“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.” Psalms 135:5-7
Paul’s response demonstrated a faith-filled, God-focused approach to “changing winds.” It is an approach that pleases God and brings peace and calm to our hearts and minds regardless of the severity of the situation. Paul CARED.
C – Constant Communication with The One Who controlled the situation. Paul practiced what he preached—”pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
A – Acknowledged that God was in control. Paul’s faith in God allowed him to display confidence, calm, peace, and level-headedness when everyone else had lost all hope.
R – Readied himself for the challenge ahead – Paul warned and instructed others how to survive the coming disaster.
E – Encouraged others and shared the hope that God had given him. Paul was not concerned only with himself and his fate; he cared about the welfare of his shipmates. Paul calmed, encouraged, and strengthened others, telling them to take heart and not be afraid. He assured them that God was in control and would bring them all safely to shore.
D – Dealt with the reality of the situation as God had revealed it. Paul didn’t ask God to change the circumstances. He trusted God to bring him through the circumstances.
When changing winds create challenges and trials in your life, follow the example of Paul. Remember how he C.A.R.E.D.
Never forget that your Father is in control. The changing winds belong to Him, and He will walk with you and guide you each step of the way.
“And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:26-27 ESV