Against The Wind

Like most people, I got out on the water and enjoyed Labor Day today (of course after getting a little house labor done on my day off). It was really windy though. So windy it almost felt like the beach, and the wind was kicking up some pretty good waves in the river.

I decided to head downstream because I had a strong headwind going in that direction, much stronger than the downstream current. I knew it would require extra strength to paddle in that headwind, but I also knew I would have a strong tailwind to bring me back upstream.

The tailwind was so strong going back that I didn't even really have to paddle. The wind just guided me safely back upstream to the harbor. If I hadn't been able to accurately discern the direction of the wind, I could have gone the opposite direction and been more fatigued coming back against a headwind after having already had a long paddle out.

Sometimes in life, we have headwinds we have to face, ones that make us work harder but also can make us stronger. Other times, getting through life is a breeze. It's the reality of living in this world. It's good though to gain wisdom and discernment on what direction the wind is coming from.

Sometimes when we're struggling against a headwind, it's because we're trying to do something God doesn't intend for us to do (and that something is also probably leading us the opposite direction from God). Other times, the direction of the struggle can be coming from Satan because he knows what a good thing we are working toward and he wants to discourage us and cause us to give up on the good thing we're working so hard for. Consequently, just because some things are a breeze doesn't necessarily mean they are within God's will. Doing God's will is not always easy or comfortable.

This is why in everything we are to seek God's wisdom and to pray for discernment so that we can determine if a headwind or a tailwind is from Him or from the enemy. Anything that's from the enemy is the WRONG direction. Anything that's from Jesus our Savior is the RIGHT direction.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-7, NIV)