Posted on September 1st, 2022.

Growing up as a young boy, it was always a fascination of mine to fly a kite. As a less-than-wealthy family member, I had learned to improvise on many occasions. At this specific time, I tried my hand at making my own kites from scratch, in other words, homemade. Obviously, the first of these prototypes was highly crude, to say the least. So, trying to fly these paperweights was less than successful in the beginning.

The one thing I remember is running with all my strength to try and loft these pitiful replicas of a kite. I tried to change up the design and added tails and ribbons to stabilize with no hope for a successful launch. Eventually, it was probably from pity that someone had purchased me a kite from the store, including a spool of proper kite string. Once handed to me, I ripped the seal off of this baby as fast as I could and looked at this beautiful piece of aerodynamic wonder. I did take note of the construction and noticed that the wood pieces were made from exceptionally lightweight wood, unlike the heavy tree limbs that my homemade counterparts were crafted from. In a rush to put this kite together, it was all that I could do to contain my excitement. Finally, she was ready for flight, and out the door, I ran.

With but one thing on my mind once I had arrived at the appointed spot, I began to, as I had done before, run with all of my strength to coerce this store-bought wonder to soar like a bird. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Just like my homemade birds had done in the past, this stupid kite spun around a few times like a pinwheel and bounced to the ground with a thud. What the heck, I thought? While completely tired from running and out of breath, I gave up and went home very discouraged. Okay, fine, I was unhappy and mad at this dumb kite. It must have been a defective kite, I thought. Could it have been my gifter purchased this kite from a particular on-sale defective kite area of the store? On the next day, I was less than motivated to approach the shame of the previous day.

As time passed, I tried to re-create my efforts to ferret out any significant mistakes that I might have made. I just could not continue the process for long, as again, the pain of defeat was greater than the desire to understand the why. I was done with the whole mess. I had not noticed that as I was going through this process, I was outside. Walking through my yard and, with frustration, I kicked the ground below me and noticed something strange. When I kicked the ground, a small cloud of dust arose and was carried away by a puff of wind. This day was different than the day before. There was a light breeze that got me thinking, could it be that simple? I ran to my room and grabbed the defective kite, and out the door I went, again, to the same spot as I had the day before. This time, before I could start to run, the darn thing jerked out of my hand and was aloft before I could even figure out what was happening.

Woo-hoo! I screamed as this beauty started to reach for the heavens unspooling the entire roll of string. If only I had more string, I thought. Before I knew it, this defective kite was so high that I could barely see it. Joy overwhelmed me as I watched this wonder of aerodynamics and realized I did not have to run to get her up. It was the wind, and without this wind, I was wasting my time and energy. That without the wind, no amount of running was able to bring this kite to fly.

Possibly by now, you may see where I am going with this. As young Christians, we become so excited to do, to change the world, to earn and perhaps feel worthy of God’s love, we try to do things of our own strength. We read the Bible, go to church, listen to praise music, and vowed never to sin again. All good things in their own right, yet before we know it, we become discouraged and tired, sometimes even giving up; we just do not get it. We might say something is missing. Well, of course, the wind, that is what is missing, the breath of God, the Holy Spirit.

According to Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Through our faith, we allow his spirit to take control of us. We learn in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (Or the love of God, His spirit), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Or just a hollow kite without the wind.

The efforts we put into our relationship with God are sometimes just that, our efforts. “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord” (Isaiah 40:31). Sometimes we need to “be still and know that he is God” (Psalms 46:10). Wait for the wind; it will come. According to Acts 1:4, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” And Acts 2:1–4 “[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The promise of Jesus Christ had come to them as he had said.

We should never get discouraged yet continue to pray and wait. As you do continue in study and prayer, go into this with the understanding that it is by the Spirit of God and not of our own works we can do these things. According to Ephesians 2:8–9, “[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Do not run out of breath trying to fly. Let the spirit, the breath of God, take you, and then you will fly higher than you could have ever imagined. I may have left you wondering, how do I get there? There are no secret words to recite, no magic potion. Instead, it is the idea of coming into an intimate relationship with God. Without that relationship, we are just doing it on our own. As I in my youth did struggle, become frustrated, and discouraged with the kite, we Christians can also experience the same feelings when we try to do it on our own. As we read in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Continue going to church. I never said that was a bad thing. Continue reading your Bible. I never said that was a bad thing either, but now go through these practices open-minded. Look for God’s direction. Wait on his spirit to change you. The more you push at something or try to force it, the harder it becomes to receive that movement.

What I am saying is that sometimes we need to allow things to happen. God’s peace, his spirit will overflow in us beyond what we can ever think, hope for, or imagine. When the Holy Spirit becomes part of us, it will be an experience we will understand and want to speak of and contemplate all the time. This will be like turning on a switch to a light.

In summary, trust in God, seek him with your heart, with your whole heart, and you will find him. Press into a relationship with God, not as a master–servant relationship, but a loving, happy learning experience through the spirit of God. Never give up, never be discouraged, wait upon the Lord, and you will be strengthened as the eagles. God never fails.

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