God's Gust to the Soul

Ready for a real, vulnerable, and inspirational story?  I hope this will be one of those for you.  It is particularly for those who struggle with everyday life sometimes…  The kind of thing where you know you’re blessed, but you still have something that seems to hang over your head.  The kind of thing where you know the devil is after you, but you don’t know what to do about it.  I’ll share something that works for me in hopes you will find it helpful and refreshing to your soul.  When I become frustrated, disappointed, lonely, sad, angry, or overwhelmed, it’s best if I take a few minutes alone with God to become centered again.  He is the only one who I can completely be myself with, who knows my heart at the deepest level, who will not judge me for my inadequacies, and who gives grace that is beyond my understanding.  I usually find Him in these times, outdoors in the world He created.  I seek a river, hilltop, woods, or just a simple path or road, away from people.  I pour out my heart to Him.  Many times with burning tears.  I tell Him everything He already knows, but I can release the negative energy and allow His perfect, peaceful, and joyful energy to replace it.  I feel the sun on my face and wind in my hair.  I see His glory in the sky and creation that surrounds me.  I watch the birds soar effortlessly through the air and hear them sing numerous different songs as if praising God in their own little way.  I thank Him for my eyes that I can see it and my ears that I can hear it.  He fills my cup every single time and I’m able to return to my life with renewed strength for the day.

God showed up in a big way one day recently when I had something very heavy on my heart.  The young daughter of a friend of mine had been in a tragic accident and was badly injured.  My soul hurt terribly when I heard the news and I began praying immediately.  I was so burdened that I begged God over and over to heal the little girl.  I thought about it night and day.  If my energy and love could have fixed her, she would have been instantly healed.  Amongst the madness in my head, I went for a jog.  It was unusually windy that day.  The kind of wind that cannot be ignored.  The trees were getting a workout tossing this way and that.  I prayed off and on the entire run for the little girl.  As I ran up a small hill, it took all the energy I had to continue running from feeling weak all over.  I powered up the hill anyway and half way up, a massive gust of wind came out of nowhere.  It came from a different direction than the wind had been blowing and blew straight into my body with more force than I had ever felt.  It slowed me down by at least half my pace.  In all my years of running, I had never experienced anything like it.  I continued to power through, but then realized I wasn’t going anywhere.  It took me a moment, but then it hit me – I am not in control.  He is.  He is the Almighty.  He is the Great I Am.  He is the Great Physician.  It was such a soul touching event that I burst into laughter!  I had to stop running completely so I could catch my breath and laugh.  I continued to pray, “Okay, I get it.  It’s you and not me.  I cannot fix this.  It’s in your hands, not mine.  And I give it to you.”  I returned from my exercise with a renewed strength and peace.  I did not stop my prayers for my friend and her daughter, but I gave it over to the only One who could bring healing and peace.  My Father. 
Where God does not always hit us in the face with a huge gust of wind, He does show us His glory and love in the peace of His beauty and in the time we have with Him alone.  Just your truthful, beautiful soul reaching out for His mercy and strength that He provides every single time you ask.   Just humble, hurting you and magnificent Him.
 
In Him,
Celeste
“…he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”  Matthew 14:23                
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