Wind – Growing in Grace

Today my five year old asked me why we can’t see God.

It caught me off guard. When my children ask me such questions, I attempt to pause and make certain I answer in the right way. Well my pause must have taken too long, because Harley answered her before I could.

“God is like the wind Hazel. You can’t see him, but you can feel Him.”

I couldn’t have answered her any more perfectly.

I piggy backed off his response to further explain to Hazel that Harley is right. We can’t see God, but like the wind, we can see the evidence of Him everywhere.

Wind lacks shape. It’s invisible; we can’t see its source or destination. It’s truly a mysterious, unseen force. Nevertheless, its presence is known by its effects. Such is the unseen Holy Spirit. Its presence is displayed in the work it does in our lives by transforming, encouraging, guiding, and teaching us.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

In this verse Jesus is comparing the work of God’s spirit in a new birth to the way the wind moves. The wind causes effects in the world without being seen and without being controlled by us. More simply put, there are detectable effects of an invisible wind. You can’t see the wind, but you know there is wind because there is sound, or pressure against your skin, or branches and leaves flying in the air. So it is with the Spirit in the work of salvation: you can’t see Him, but you can see His effects.

It’s notable that the wind also moves on its own without our control in the like manor that the holy spirit moves upon us when we our lost, convicting our hearts and drawing us into a relationship with Him. We can’t control that; anymore than we can control the wind. When His spirit moves upon us, THAT’S when we move to accept Him. We can’t make him speak to our hearts, just as we can’t cause the wind to blow.

For me, it all comes down to faith. The word tells us blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29). He’s unseen for a reason. Faith is a choice (Hebrews 11:23-28). God will not make us choose Him. And the sad reality is, some people will always look for reasons not to believe.

My heart goes out to those who are unintentionally missing this wondrous gift of faith. It’s what compelled me to blog upon this thought that my daughter’s innocent and simple question provoked.

So many seem to miss what is right in front of their very noses. God is everywhere. He’s in the sunsets and rises. He’s in the smile of a baby and the kindness of others; in the healing of the sick or when the impossible happens. I look at the miracle of my four children each day and wonder how anyone cannot believe….But you just can’t see what you don’t believe. And such a person that chooses not to believe, cannot experience the wonders and glories of God. It would be like walking through a beautiful garden with your eyes closed.

C.S Lewis said: “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun. Not because I can see it but because by it, I can see everything else.” That’s EXACTLY how I feel.

Doubting or intrigued friend, won’t you consider the chance that I might be right today?? Simply seek out God. If you seek Him, you WILL find Him. If I’m wrong, you have nothing to lose….but if I’m right….you have EVERYTHING to lose.