Have you ever looked into a kaleidoscope at the changing shapes and colors? As a young girl I had one and loved to turn it slowly and watch the little pieces fall into the different patterns. Looking at clouds is another time when while you are looking at them shapes change because the wind is blowing way up where you can’t see it, except in their changing shapes.
The journey of our life starts as an infant and at that point our only shaping force is heredity. As we grow we become influenced by how we are treated and the things we see and hear. We are also influenced by our impression of events, which are some times more real than the actual event. We get to a place in life where everything seems settled, and then the wind of change comes into our life, our shape becomes something we don’t recognize and we don’t know how to deal with this new shape we are given.
We adjust but the wind continues to blow and then we see something different.
There are times we bring about the change because we become unhappy with our present situation, so we blow along with the wind like a balloon bouncing along in a current of ever changing wind.
I have known people that have faced adversity and came out shining like a diamond, changed but better for the polishing effects of the trouble, others have crumbled under situations less arduous. Strength in the midst of a storm is something I greatly admire, a person who can “take a licking and keep on ticking“. I am on the inside of a family that has had it’s share of trouble, but we are still standing, thanks to our God, who has never left us nor forsaken us.
All of us are in crisis situations of one kind or another; some are facing financial ruin, others relationship troubles and family problems. I have two close friends that are each in a health crisis, and something I have face, losing close friends due to misunderstandings.
What can make us all better, whole, healed and able to face tomorrow?
Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fishes and He turned water into wine. The Children of Israel were fed manna, given water from a rock, shade by day and fire by night. Philippians 4:11-13 the Apostle gives us some excellent advice: I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
A hymn by Charles A.Tindley says it this way: When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, when the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, Thou Who rulest wind and water, stand by me. Whatever is wrong, anchor yourself to the Rock and sing with joy to Him in thankfulness for saving you out of your troubles.
You can’t change the direction of the wind but you can let Jesus adjust your sails to get you through the storms of this life! You don’t have to be afraid He can calm the storm on the sea, or in your life, with one word.
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