Sunday, October 28, 2012

The wind is in His fists




This thought just came to me as I looked at the forecast for us in the eastern part of the USA.  It's from Proverbs 30:4 and the correct phrase goes like this..."he gathereth the wind in his fists."  This gave me comfort as even where we are in East Tennessee may well be affected by the winds from Hurricane Sandy, causing widespread damage and power outages.

I recalled one time when we lived in the Boston area when a terrific storm came up.  The windows were rattling unnervingly that night and the near-hurricane-force winds were wildly shipping the towering trees surrounding our house.  My husband was away on business, and I had never experienced wind so fierce.  "What am I going to do?" was my main thought.  "What if a tree crashes on our house?"  This was not thinking that was bringing me much calm.

So, I began praying in earnest as I had learned in Christian Science when other challenges threatened to overwhelm.  This description of wind from the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy came to thought.  "That which indicates the might of omnipotence and the movements of God's spiritual government, encompassing all things"  (p. 597).

It was so reassuring to realize that God was encompassing, surrounding all things, that all was under His powerful control.  The fear left.  I really felt God's presence, and it was wonderful.  The next morning revealed that there was no damage whatever in our yard or our neighbors' yards except for a few dead branches that had to be cleaned up later.

Many passages throughout the Bible reveal God as the ever-present, tender guardian of all.  And Jesus, who was ever conscious of God's unfailing care for His children, said, "He that sent me is with me:  the Father hath not left me alone" (John 8:29).  Nor does the Father ever leave you or me alone and unprotected.  The Father's comforting and potent love is always at hand anytime we need His incomparable help.

In truth, we are not helpless victims of violence from weather.  As the man of God's creating, each of us is governed by God, the divine Mind, the only real source of power and activity.  When we realize this fact with the conviction that comes of spiritual understanding--of having  felt His help before--we can come through fierce conditions without fear or harm.  "The history of Christianity furnishes sublime proofs of the supporting influence and protecting ower bestowed on man by His heavenly Father, omnipotent Mind, who gives man faith and understanding whereby to defend  himself, not only from temptation, but from bodily suffering" (Science and Health, p. 387).

We can be safe, whatever the wind may do.  When weather threatens our well-being, we can meet it through an understanding of our oneness with God.  As Paul wrote:  "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"  (Romans 8:38,39).

A spiritual understanding of this is extremely practical, and it's accessible to anyone reading this right now.  You can begin now to discern and put into practice those spiritual truths of God and man that will enable you to pass through storms with calmness and confidence that your safety under God's government is sure.