I pulled my jacket closer to my chin. The fall air felt crisp, even though the sun shone faithfully in the eastern sky. I rounded the curve by the massive sugar maple, its glorious shades of crimson now transitioning to brown—broken pieces of former glory.
While pondering the tree’s recent beauty, I heard a crackling sound at my feet. A multitude of brown, brittle leaves hurried across the road in front of me, ushered by a brisk wind, the crackling pronounced.
I Recognized God’s Presence
The image stopped me as God’s Holy Spirit tapped on my heart.
I stood still while the burnished cinnamon-colored leaves paraded in front of me, a mere shadow of their former beauty. Now they crumbled in the wind and rustled with crackling sounds as they rushed across the road.
Intuitively, I thought of broken areas in my life and in the lives of those I love. Broken pieces of lives well lived. Each of us has a story. But, as Christians, each of us also has a Redeemer who rewrites our story.
As I stood there watching the leaves and considering the wind that scattered them over to the distant field, I was reminded of the Lord’s Presence. His breath is like a mighty wind. He walks on the wings of the wind, and the clouds are but the dust of His feet…when God draws near.
Like the brisk wind blowing the dying, crumbling leaves across my path, the Spirit of God is breathing anew on His people, removing and healing the broken places from our lives for His glory…for such a time as this.
The breath of His Spirit is ushering the brittle, dead pieces away, and like a mighty rushing wind, the Lord our God is pouring out His Spirit on His people like never before.
“Do not yield to fear, for I am always near.
Never turn your gaze from Me, for I am your faithful God.
I will infuse you with My strength
and help you in every situation.
I will hold you firmly with My victorious right hand.’” ~ Isaiah 41:10, TPT
As the fires of trial seem to magnify in this hour, God is with us. When God draws near, we find peace. Our despair transforms into hope, and our weaknesses become infused with His strength.
God Draws Near in our Difficult Place
He is for us and not against us! As a people, we must focus our eyes on the Lord and His faithfulness and remember that His love never fails.
Walk by faith and not by sight.
His Name is Immanuel. God with us.
Selah