Headwinds; Battling the pressures of life

by Peter Elks - 29 July 2020

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving to the Wirral a few years ago, it’s that whatever direction you want to ride your bike, you’ll always be battling a headwind.

A while back we walked from Hoylake to Red Rocks. What a relief to get outside for the permitted exercise and a breath of fresh air. On the way there our feet were fairly flying with what we thought was a burst of long pent-up energy, until we turned around and faced the blast of a northeaster that almost blew us backwards. (Solid base from extra pounds added over lockdown was a definite advantage at that moment.)

Seriously, have you ever felt that life’s like that – facing you down like you’re in the teeth of a gale and blown this way & that in your mind, not knowing which way to turn because there’s always a headwind? Specially at this time when the pressures of life are unbelievably tough whether it’s to do with health or your job or lack of money.

If you feel like that, Beacon Church has good news for you.

This news comes from the God who created us long ago in His image and for His glory, and who knows what makes us tick.

He says to you and me, ‘Look unto Me and be saved.’

There was a bloke called Peter who one unusual day hit headwinds: he was one of Jesus’ chosen buddies and was in a boat with the rest when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Now they’d seen Him do some pretty amazing things but this really blew their minds. So being the kind of bloke he was, Peter said, ‘Master, if it’s really you’ (and not a ghost he probably thought to himself) ‘tell me to come to you.’ So Jesus said ‘Come’ because He loves daring faith, and Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the waves.

While he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus he was ok, but when a blast of wind hit him in the face and a rogue wave slapped him on the cheek, he started to panic and go under. That was his problem, but on the way down he shouted out, ‘Lord, save me!’ and the Bible tells us that ‘immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and plucked him from the waters.’

There’s no problem too big for Jesus to handle, if we trust ourselves to Him and ask Him humbly for His help.

We may never experience that kind of miracle, but when we open our heart to receive Jesus Christ who died for our sins 2,000 years ago, rose from the dead and is the living Saviour today, He comes into our life and transforms us on the inside. He gives us a life that’s completely new: that’s why the Bible calls it being ‘born from above’ or, ‘born from heaven’.

It only takes a look at Him, believing that he died on the Cross for you and that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved from your sins.

‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’ Romans 10:9

‘For everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.’ Romans 10:13

If you’re battling a headwind today, look to Jesus: you’ll find Him near.

We at Beacon church are always happy to pray for anyone needing Jesus’ help, without any commitment or even a name. Click here to submit a prayer request or you can contact us here and someone will get back to you.