February 2026

What if I told you to go outside and spit into the wind, would you do it? No, I don’t think you would. Especially in the cold of this winter. “Spitting into the wind” is an expression that means to do something futile, useless, pointless, and fruitless.

Sometimes I feel like my job as a Pastor is spitting into the wind. It is not good to feel that the work you do is futile or fruitless. And yet there are seasons where that is just the only way to describe how it feels. And I am in one.

There has always been no shortage of unrest in the world that we could pray about. But now that unrest has come home to us. To our nation. Unrest is on our doorstep, and it is wreaking havoc with our relationships. This is where I would write something encouraging and back it up with scripture. I would pray you would take it into your hearts and then out into the world. And yet it feels “fruitless” to do so right now. Inadequate during what we are experiencing as a nation.

My experience lately has been that people are forgetting their identity as disciples and children of God as they react from the gut to what they are seeing, hearing, and reading. Me included. It has challenged me to pause and think about how often I just react as Lisa rather than as God’s child, Lisa. This has fueled my feelings of futility.

I started thinking about the definition of spitting into the wind, and the word “fruitless” kept jumping out at me. The Christian life is one that is to bear fruit always. And bearing fruit is only possible by staying connected to the vine of Jesus. We never want to be disciples who are not bearing fruit.

What that means is that we are not at liberty to go around spitting into the wind. That is a waste of our time and energy. We are to be intentional about everything we say and do. Praying first for the will of God and His glory to be revealed.

And yes, I will offer you some scripture and a word of encouragement which I hope will not be fruitless for you. I have been finding a great deal of help right now in the book of Ephesians. Our verse for the year came from this book too. As a reminder it comes from Ephesians 5:15-16 and says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Paul also reminds us in Ephesians 4:3 to, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” These are words to impress on our hearts right now before we speak. And Paul continues to verse 15 where he says we are to speak the truth, but in love. When we do that, we mature more into who Christ wants us to be. “Instead, speak the truth in love, thereby we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15.

I guess I can’t help myself but to offer you scripture and encouragement. We need to do better in our hearts and with our tongues. When you encounter something upsetting, ask yourself what it is you are really feeling. Is it a gut reaction from the core of you? Or is it a message from the Holy Spirit. Is it fruitless? Or fruitful?

These are the times we have trained for as Christians. This is when we get to display the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). This is when we are the hands and feet of Christ bringing God’s Kingdom to the earth around us.

Many people are out there spitting into the wind right now. And I’m sorry to use such a vulgar expression, but it hits home. Don’t be one of them. Be a spreader of peace and civility. Find ways to speak the truth, but with love. And remember to always remain with the vine so you can bear fruit.

Peace,

Pastor Lisa