The Gentle Breeze
by Tanya Person
One morning, recently, I awoke to a very gentle breeze blowing in the open window. The room was warm, and every little breath of wind felt refreshing, but this breeze was so slight that I had to really be still to feel it. As I stayed still and enjoyed the gentleness and refreshment of that, I felt God start to speak to me through the breeze.
I was reminded of the story in 1 Kings 19 when God told Elijah to go meet with Him on the mountain. There was a windstorm, an earthquake, and fire, but God was not in those. Then came the sound of a gentle whisper, and that was where God was.
I did a search through the Scriptures to see what God said about wind. Many times, it was what God used to change things; drying up water after the flood, blowing away locusts after the plague, and for cleaning. It was also used as analogy of how God will deal with the wicked, blowing them away like straw or a tumbleweed.
Sometimes the things God does are big and obvious, like a strong wind, but many times we have be still, as our scripture for today says, and know that He is God. We can get so busy in our daily lives and can forget that we need to take time to stop, be still, and know Him, letting Him speak, as we quietly wait. We wait in expectation, just as I waited expectantly for the next gentle breeze to come in through the open window. When He speaks to us, it refreshes, revives, and restores us.
In Psalms 37:7, it says, ‘Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes’. So often we’re impatient. We want to see God act NOW, change our situation NOW, give us that thing we are waiting for NOW, whether it is provision, or healing, or fulfillment of a promise, or whatever it is we are waiting for. But His word to us is to be still in His presence and wait for Him to act. As we spend time in His presence, in stillness, we get to know Him more. As we know Him more, our faith increases. We know that He’ll do what He’s said He’ll do. We don’t need to worry and fret about it. We can’t make it happen any faster by striving.
I encourage you today to find that place of stillness. Allow God to blow on you with His gentle breath. And then walk in that place of stillness in your soul with peace and joy in your spirit, knowing your God is with you and is faithful to bring it to completion.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for striving and for not setting aside the time to be still in Your presence. I ask You to help me to give You all my worries and cares and striving. Help me to know You and the peace that You bring. Thank You for Your promise that You will act. I choose today to be still in Your presence. Amen.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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