Anchored in Truth When the Winds Blow
Ephesians 4:14–16 (KJV)
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
When Paul talks about the “wind of doctrine” in Ephesians 4, he is warning believers about something very real: teachings, ideas, and influences that slowly pull us off course.
Wind is an interesting thing. When we think about it, we usually imagine a powerful storm or a sudden gust. But the truth is, not all wind is strong and obvious. Sometimes the wind is slow and steady, almost unnoticeable. Yet over time, it can completely reshape the landscape.
The same thing can happen in our spiritual lives.
When I look back over my life, I cannot point to one dramatic moment where everything suddenly changed. For a long time that bothered me because I heard so many testimonies where someone could clearly say, “That was the moment everything changed.” My story didn’t look like that.
Instead, my life was shaped by a series of small moments.
There were times when strangers would approach me and say things like, “The Lord has something in store for your life,” or “You will be mightily used by God.” At the time, I didn’t understand those words. I struggled to believe God could even love me, much less have a plan for my life.
One of the hardest seasons in my life came when I became pregnant with a child I could not have. That pain shook me deeply.
After losing my baby, I still went to church, and I still read my Bible. From the outside, nothing looked different. But inside, something had started to shift. I was hurting, and I believed no one could understand my pain.
So, I began withdrawing into myself.
The people at church and my family tried to reach out, but I wasn’t ready to receive it. Instead of leaning in, I slowly began pulling away.
At first, the changes were small.
I stopped participating as much in church because I was “tired from work.” Eventually, that led to missing Wednesday services. But I told myself it was okay because I still went on Sundays and still read my Bible.
That’s how the little compromises start.
I convinced myself that I would never go back to drugs, so having an occasional drink was fine. After all, the Bible says not to get drunk. So, I justified it.
It was okay, I told myself, because I still read my Bible and went to church.
But slowly something else crept in; shame.
I began thinking that if people at church really knew what I was doing, they would disown me. So, I started missing Sundays too. Eventually, I became what you might call a holiday Christian. I showed up occasionally, but I wasn’t walking with God anymore.
And for years, that was my life.
But God didn’t leave me there.
The person you see today took a lot of patience from the Lord, because I was stubborn.
When my oldest graduated, we moved back home. That meant being around mom again, who is just as stubborn as I am, but in the best way. She refused to give up on me, and because of her persistence, we started going to church occasionally.
Every time I went, I could feel the Lord reaching for me.
But I was still angry.
I couldn’t forgive Him for taking something from me that I wanted with everything in me. In my mind, nobody could convince me that a loving God would allow that.
What’s funny looking back now is this: I remember having a simple surgery that went wrong. In the middle of the night, I was in pain and crying, and guess who I called on?
The very God I was mad at.
I remember saying, “Lord, if You help me through this, I will get my life together.”
Sometimes I think about that night and realize maybe I did have a defining moment after all. Not because everything changed instantly, but because my heart began to change.
Just like wind can slowly destroy something, it can also slowly build something.
This time I decided I was going to take my time with my walk with the Lord and learn Him for myself.
I didn’t just read the Bible; I began to study it.
And when you start studying God’s Word, something powerful happens. You begin to see the flaws in your own thinking. I realized how many partial truths I had believed.
Growing in the Lord also meant letting go of things that had become normal in my life, certain habits, entertainment, and even relationships that no longer aligned with the life God was calling me to live.
At first, it felt strange. But over time, something beautiful happened.
Peace.
Today I can honestly say I am the happiest I have ever been. There is a peace and comfort that comes from walking with the Lord that nothing in this world can replace.
And I will tell anyone who will listen about it.
Because now I understand what Paul meant when he warned about being carried away by the winds of doctrine. Drift rarely happens all at once. It happens slowly.
But praise God—restoration can happen slowly, too.
Reflection Questions
Have there been moments in your life where small compromises slowly moved you away from God without you realizing it?
Are there any “winds” in your life right now, ideas, habits, or influences, that might be pulling you off course?
What would it look like for you to move beyond simply reading Scripture and begin studying God’s Word more deeply?
Is there an area where God has been patiently calling you back, but you have been hesitant to respond?
Take a moment today to ask the Lord to show you where He is gently guiding your heart.
Prayer
Lord,
Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I drifted away. Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, and Your constant pursuit of my heart. Forgive me for the times I allowed small compromises, hurt, or misunderstanding to pull me away from You.
Help me to stay grounded in Your truth so that I am not carried away by every wind of teaching or influence. Give me a desire not just to read Your Word, but to study it, understand it, and live it.
Teach me to trust Your heart even when I do not understand Your ways. Strengthen my faith and help me grow in Christ so that my life reflects Your love and truth.
Thank You for the peace that comes from walking with You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
