There’s an old story in Aesop’s Fables in which the north wind and the sun both want to see who can get a man to take his jacket off faster. The north wind goes first, and he begins howling, roaring, and sending violent gusts that he is certain will blow the coat right off of his subject. However, much to his chagrin, the gales only cause him to pull his garment closer. Reveling in the wind’s defeat, the sun steps up and says, “Watch this!” Then, he turns up the heat and shines so brightly that his unsuspecting victim begins to sweat — and sure enough, off the jacket comes. Though this is an ancient story, its powerful lessons ring just as true today. In an information-saturated, social media-fueled, and soundbyte-driven culture, there’s a daily fight for our minds and our attention. Many competing forces want us to take action, and most of them beckon us to howl like the wind. They bait us in the hope that we’ll blow hot air until we’ve ruined any credibility we might have had. However, the Spirit of God invites us to do something different. Rather than taunting us into movement, He radiates His warmth on us and bids us live each day in His light. When we abide in Him, He melts away our rough edges, and His presence impacts and blesses others as we simply let Him shine.

My friend, there’s a war to capture your heart, mind, and tongue in these crazy times. While the world tempts you to roar and make noise so your voice can be heard, your Savior invites you to walk in His presence as you rest. Though it’s tempting to take a platform or ascend a soapbox for the sake of feeling significant, this will only keep you weighed down. Be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to pray, and you will be amazed at how God uses you to move mountains in the midst of chaos.