A seagull caught my attention as I watched waves crashing on the rocky shore during a storm. Little did I realize what wisdom that little being was about to portray for me. The bird stood firm as the wind pummelled its pint-sized body. The more I observed the unfolding little drama, the more intrigued I became. The wind blasted me as I fought to take the photo above. But the skinny-legged bundle of feathers stood unmoving on the rock at the water’s edge, feet firmly planted.
The wind continued to buffet that little creature, and when it tried to walk, the gale pushed it sideways. After taking several criss-cross dance steps, the wise winged one stopped. It stood still and waited, its feet firmly gripping the rock beneath it. Eventually, the wind calmed, and my feathered friend continued its journey. As I watched in fascination, it repeated the cycle of walking, stopping, and waiting several times.
As I struggled with the emotional rollercoaster I was experiencing due to my tilted world, I sensed God speaking to me through the intriguing drama I had witnessed. The winds of adversity blow, and the waves crash all around us, but when we firmly plant our feet on the rock that is Jesus, we have nothing to fear. What does that mean? As we read God’s word, He speaks to us through it, and as our relationship with Him grows, trust develops. If we stop walking and wait for the storm to abate even temporarily, as the bird did, and hold fast to our faith, the wind will eventually calm. The gull, in its wisdom, knew the best course of action was to wait rather than push forward when the result would be counterproductive.
In the Bible, Ephesians 6:10-18 speaks about putting on the whole armour of God so we can fight the spiritual battles we will encounter. The armour includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word). But the Apostle Paul, who wrote that book, made this interesting statement in verse 13, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (NIV, emphasis mine).
A skinny-legged creature illustrated that for me, and my mind returns often to that memory and the wisdom I gleaned from it.
When the world seems to crash around you, follow the Apostle Paul’s instruction and that little bird’s example. Stand. Plant your feet and wait. Then, move forward when the gale passes. Standing on the rock and holding fast is a place of safety and security in the storm.
Jesus is my rock in the storm I face. I hold onto the promises of God as the wind blasts around me, and I wait with Him by my side. May you, too, cling to that rock in the storms you face and discover that you’re not standing there alone.
What a wise little creature God made.
Until next time,
Brenda Erb Roberts
Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’m delighted that you did.
My Last Inspirational Story:
My world changed significantly a few months ago. Read about it here and how God is walking with me through it: When the World Tilts.
Looking Back:
I had not anticipated my now-altered circumstances when I wrote this article about Thanksgiving a year ago, Thankfulness Through a Different Lens. Those thoughts are helping me now.
On a Lighter Note:
Chuckle with me as you read about the evidence that suggests I Missed My Calling.