Here’s the famous Aesop fable:

The North Wind boasted of great strength. The Sun argued that there was great power in gentleness.

“We shall have a contest,” said the Sun.

Far below, a man traveled a winding road. He was wearing a warm winter coat.

“As a test of strength,” said the Sun, “Let us see which of us can take the coat off of that man.”

“It will be quite simple for me to force him to remove his coat,” bragged the Wind.

The Wind blew so hard, the birds clung to the trees. The world was filled with dust and leaves. But the harder the wind blew down the road, the tighter the shivering man clung to his coat.

Then, the Sun came out from behind a cloud. Sun warmed the air and the frosty ground. The man on the road unbuttoned his coat.

The sun grew slowly brighter and brighter.

Soon the man felt so hot, he took off his coat and sat down in a shady spot.

“How did you do that?” said the Wind.

“It was easy,” said the Sun, “I lit the day. Through gentleness I got my way.”

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I’ve been thinking about this fable lately. We’ve been tested with a lot of things in a short period of time. So much has gone wrong it’s almost unbelievable! However, I feel like the traveler in this story. No matter how hard the wind blows, I will not do what he wants. I will dig my heals in and hold my coat tighter! 

We will cling to God’s word and His promises. We will trust that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He is our provider. And, no matter what, He is sovereign and in control. He is God!

In His time, the sun will come out and touch us with His warmth. Amen.