I love living in Wales! The people are so kind and gracious. The scenery is breathtaking. The sheep are interesting beyond measure. And believe it or not, I even enjoy the weather. Take today, for example. It’s the 4th day of July. The weather was partly cloudy, with a few light sprinkles this morning. And the temperature? It was a low of 54 degrees and a high of 62. Isn’t that awesome! Despite the often drizzly weather, I’ve come to enjoy the Welsh climate.

There is one thing that still boggles my mind—the wind. The breezes can pop up at any moment unannounced. And typically, they’re not gentle breezes. Nope, they’ll blow your hat right off your head. And the reason for the hat is because the alternative is to have your hair blown in every direction.  Not fun!

Yes, the winds can be pretty rough, but not only that, they can also be confusing. They can change direction on a whim. I can go out for my daily walk and start on the path with the wind in my face. Then, when I turn around to come back, the wind is still in my face. How is that possible? How can I walk against the wind in both directions? I don’t know, but it happens more often than I can count.

But for now, I want to talk a little about the days the wind doesn’t change direction. Take, for example, my walk today. I stepped out my front door, strolled down my driveway, and hit the sidewalk. After a short block, I turned onto the quiet side road and began my workout in earnest. For just over a mile and a half, I walked, reveling in the scenery and the delightful weather. I smiled. I prayed. I laughed at a few sheep along the way and waved at a few passersby.

Then, it was time to turn around, and within a few steps, I noticed something—the wind was strong. It blew against my face with its cold breath, and I shivered involuntarily. At first, I felt this had to be one of those winds that came up out of nowhere, but then I remembered seeing the trees and bushes waving in the breeze during the first part of my walk. The wind had been there all along, but I didn’t notice it until I had to walk against it.

Oh, doesn’t it work the same way in life? How often do we miss the breezes of blessing pushing us onward, giving us strength to conquer the tasks ahead? Yet, when we face trials head-on, there’s no denying them, is there? The force behind us goes unnoticed and unappreciated, while the power before us causes us to whine and complain. Why is that?

I have a theory. When I walk with the wind at my back, my walk is nearly effortless. And since I have to put little thought or power into the activity, the unseen force propelling me forward goes unacknowledged. On the other hand, when I walk against the wind, the act takes strength. It requires willpower. It becomes a concentrated effort to put one foot in front of the other and move forward. The winds are pushing against me, and for me to continue, I have no choice but to push back. I have to dig deep for a strength that wasn’t required previously.

Is it any wonder God allows us to go through trials from time to time? How much would we take for granted otherwise? How ungrateful would we be if we breezed through life without ever having to call on a strength greater than our own?

None of us wants to walk contrary to the wind. No one longs for hard times. But we can take comfort in knowing we never walk alone. There is One who longs to help us and hold us when the going gets tough. Let Him be your strength, and don’t forget to thank Him for all those unnoticed blessings He has sent your way.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

— Psalm 28:7