Some of my favorite imagery from the Bible are those passages that describe the Holy Spirit. John 3:8NIV, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” That image of Holy Spirit as Powerful Wind resonates deeply with me.

Today is the last day of a week at the beach for me. Last beach day is always melancholy for me. God always untangles me at the beach and by last day He has always reached deep into my spirit and placed peace and new truths about Himself there. The melancholy comes from having to move on from this place where I have drunk from deep within the well.

This trip’s last day is cloudy and showery. I typically love beach walks in this weather. The winds are exceptionally high today, running parallel with the shore. There is a small craft wind advisory in effect. The walk down to the end of the beach was effortless. The powerful wind was at my back. I practically glided down the beach and made great time. Then I had to come back. I had to turn into the wind and it was fierce. Sand blew in the wind and fought against me. A soft rain shower began mid trip. Gentle raindrops became little razors because of the force of the wind. The drops became little razors that pummeled against my legs and face. I couldn’t see very well and had to keep my head down. My legs ached as I had to lean heavily into the wind to keep going. My destination seemed to take hours.

Through the entire walk….to and fro…God was so present to me through the Spirit. I felt great peace even though I had to exert great effort on the return half. He cooed to me a great lesson.

Perhaps you have already picked up on what the lesson might be. Oh how we love to have the wind at our back. All seems right in the world when spiritually we feel God’s presence propelling us along and we can see no obstacles in our paths. I, too, relish those moments when there is an ease to my steps and I can see clearly where I am going. Our lips and hearts are full of praise. Sometimes the journey is so pleasant we forget the Powerful Wind of the Spirit is doing much of the work. As gloriously pleasant as those times are, our strength and growth never expand there.

He always calls us to turn. He calls us to turn into the Powerful Wind of the Spirit and lean in, face first into the majesty of Himself. It is work. Sometimes it hurts a little and we can’t see where we are going and often wonder if we will ever reach our destination. But with each step full on into Him, we get stronger. And as we journey on, we begin to feel the very same Presence with us and the very same peace.

He doesn’t change. All that He provides on the easy parts, He will provide on the difficult parts. The Powerful Wind of the Holy Spirit is already inside of us. He swirls and moves in us desires to be wild and free to guide our every step and empower us for every moment of our days. But. But at some point each of us has to turn directly into Him if we want to grow strong. The power available is not the power at our backs. Yes, there is some movement and joy in that place but the real power of the Holy Spirit is related in us when we walk and lean right into His glory and strength.

One foot in front of the other, make the journey straight into the Powerful Wind and see the entire trajectory of your life change. For such a time as this He is calling His children to walk by faith and not by sight.