About a week ago, Tropical Storm Bill blew ashore into our typically quiet little community of Port O’Connor. I’ve always been fascinated by inclimate weather, so I decided to drive to the Front Beach to get an up close and personal view of all the excitement.
I parked my car within sight of the boisterous bay, so I wouldn’t miss the events unfolding before me. It was quite a show. The clouds were menacing, and hung ominously in the sky. The waves, whipped by gusting winds, rushed toward the seawall, making a furious assault. The resulting explosion of water against the wall sent large plumes of ocean spray into the air. The scene was dynamic, powerful, and relentless.
As I looked at all that was going on around me, an unexpected view caught my eye. On shore, a large number of seabirds had aligned themselves four abreast, as though in military formation. They didn’t appear to be rattled or disconcerted. They simply stood their ground, looking intently ahead. However, not only were these creatures orderly, but all of them, to the last bird, was facing into the wind—they were facing the direction from which the storm was coming. This struck a chord in my heart. It was as though God was saying, “Look closely. There are lessons to be learned here.”
Like the seabirds standing in the midst of the storm, we need to determine to stand our ground and stay focused forward. The storm will eventually blow itself out. Better days will come again. Until then, the Bible commands, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
Like the seabirds, when the storms of life come, we should be facing into the wind, not running away in fear. As a wise person once said, “If God has brought you to it, He will bring you through it.” Even in the storms of life, God is teaching us something; He is speaking to our hearts. Therefore, we must continually be “…looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) to meet our needs and to protect us.
Do you have a storm in your life right now? Turn your face into the wind and stand fast. You can successfully weather the storm if you look in faith to the Master of the Wind—Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
