Winds Of Confusion

The Great Lakes are a sight to behold. They dwarf any reservoir you may have navigated throughout the world. The volume of water within them makes up one-fifth of the fresh water on the planet at approximately 6 quadrillion gallons. Lake Superior is the largest and greatest in volume, whereas Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes in volume.

Because Lake Erie is so shallow, it warms up much faster than the other lakes and draws people from all around to swim in the comparatively tepid waters during the summer. However, there is a danger that lurks within that shallow lake. The calm water surface can become dangerous when a storm blows in. Thunderstorms on Lake Erie have taken lives because the water becomes so violently driven by the wind. The summer storms can blow in quickly and cause waves up to 10 feet or more in a matter of minutes. The winds seem to come from every direction, and the waves crash into your boat, overwhelming your ability to navigate the waters. A person can become confused about which way to go because there is no visual shoreline to navigate to. Safety seems to elude them.

There is only one way we can prepare a person for potential danger that can arise this quickly. Locals that are familiar with the rapid changes that can occur monitor the sky while enjoying themselves on the water. They keep a weather alert radio tuned to alert them to incoming weather patterns that could threaten them. They pay attention to how far out from the shore they are and how long it may take to get back to safety. The prepared person watches for signs of the contrary winds that can blow in. When those winds blow, they react without hesitation and seek shelter.

There are also storms that blow in the spirit world around us that can cause people to lose hope, their way, and even their lives. If you watch with an informed eye, you can see the storm clouds forming on the horizon. You must act quickly and not allow yourself to become caught in the storm’s violence.

Jesus promised a helper that would dwell within us and guide us in all truth. He is the One that provides the warnings of danger. He is the One who lets you know which way to go to get to safety. We find this in John 14:15-18.

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

If you have studied the signs and listened to the Spirit to show the way of escape, no harm will come to you.

Look at Psalm 91:1-2;

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”

 You can see that no harm will come to a person who dwells in the shelter of the Most High. He provides your protection. Stay close to the LORD Most High. Tune into His alert system that will let you know of incoming danger. Heed the warnings without hesitation so that when, as verses 7 and 8 state,

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord the Most High your refuge and your dwelling, no evil will come upon you. No plague will come near your home because He has assigned angels to guard you in all your ways as noted in verses 11 and 12. They won’t even allow you to stub your toe!

¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
¹² In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Rejoice, for you are greatly loved!