“Awake, O north wind, and come, wind of the south; make my garden breathe out fragrance, let its spices be wafted abroad.”
—Song of Songs 4:16 (NASB)     

Reflection

North winds are winds of adversity. They are cold and not pleasing to the flesh. Most of us do not stand in the middle of difficulty saying, “Come, freezing winds!” But this picture reveals a heart that has become willing to trust God even with the winds that are uncomfortable.

Some fruit can only be produced in our lives by God bringing us through hard times.

Job went through a tremendous season of difficulty where he lost everything and then gained it back. Afterward, he said to the Lord, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5) He gained a clearer view of God by going through those times of great loss.

You may be going through difficult times right now. You may be in a season of testing. Perhaps you have prayed, “Lord, whatever it takes.” But now you feel those chilly winds blowing, and you are struggling.

James tells us that various testings and trials reveal the quality of our faith and bring us toward maturity. Sometimes the Lord also uses trials to keep us humble while good things are happening.

Paul experienced this. He pleaded with the Lord concerning his thorn in the flesh, but God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) The north wind blew on Paul’s life, and God’s power was actually being perfected in it.

Like him, we must be willing to pray – Father God, I am ready to go through whatever You have for me, as long as it brings me closer to You and creates within me a dwelling place for You.

Beloved, this is part of being mature.

Father does not bring us into the fullness of what He has for us only by causing the warm, pleasurable south winds to blow upon our lives. He allows north winds to sweep over us, not to hurt us, but because something about going through hard times perfects His strength in us as we depend on Him.

There are treasures the Holy Spirit wants to impart to us that can only be imparted when we are going through difficult times.

His grace is sufficient.

His power is perfected in our weakness.

Application

• When you find yourself in a difficult season, ask the Lord what He desires to produce in you through it rather than only asking for the trial to end.
• Surrender again to Father God and trust Him with both the warm south winds and the difficult north winds.

Prayer

Father God, I want to trust You with every season of my life. When the north winds blow and I feel weak, help me remember that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is perfected in weakness. Bring me through whatever You have for me if it will bring me closer to You and create within me a deeper dwelling place for Your presence. Produce in me the fruit that can only come through dependence upon You. I say yes to Your work in my life, and I trust You to use even difficult seasons for Your purpose. Amen.