LEANING INTO THE HEADWINDS

It is always a treat to hear from Greg Haswell. You'll hear more from him at Hope at Home 2014. You can register today for this gathering of adoptive, foster, and waiting parents, September 26-27, in Atlanta, Georgia. We sure would love to see you there!

From Greg:

It seems wrong to encounter headwinds when we start on a path that God led us to. Shouldn’t the headwinds be in our face when we’re doing the wrong things, and at our back when we’re negotiating the right paths? Yet sometimes we find ourselves doing what we know to be right and still squinting into discouragement.

Headwinds are not insurmountable; we can proceed with them in our face, but they are unpleasant. They resist us as we go forward and create drag on what we’re doing. Sometimes they gust harshly, demanding immediate withdrawal or surrender. Other times, they resist with poisoned whispers and subtle insinuations.

When the Israelites entered the promised land under the direction of God, they faced the headwinds of discouragement and fear. Even though they were walking into great promises, they still had to fight giants and pull down strongholds. Most times they were outnumbered, outgunned, and outclassed, but they had God walking with them into all He had promised.

As they were about to enter their promised land, God’s instructions were especially important, and I suspect they will be equally important for us as we walk into ours.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous and forbade him to be afraid or discouraged. That is a command, and therefore it is attainable, because God never requires us to accomplish what we cannot. 

So I am here to encourage you, in submission to God, to resist the headwinds of discouragement and fear. These two impostors always seek to resist the stated will of God. If they can get us to imbibe their lies, believe their deception, or surrender to their suggestions, we lose out on the promised land. 

Remind yourself of what the Lord said when He led you here. 

Remember His kindness and goodness to you and shout at the headwinds “I will not bow down to fear or discouragement!”

A stubborn and immediate refusal to fear allows the whispers of God to ring in our hearts loud and strong. When we are careful to resist fear and discouragement, all that is left is peace and a deep inner knowing that the days of fulfilled promises are here. The headwinds die down, and we have courage to go on in the will of God. Our arms are strengthened by following His advice.

So may your life be eased by obedience to His command. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)