As I write this, there is a little kite caught in a tree in my backyard. This is the third year that it has been there - clinging to our tree with all its might through countless storms in every season. It got there when my husband, Joe, and my grandson, William, were flying kites one sunny summer day. And it has refused to let go of our tree, even when battered by ice, wind, and snow.

One day as I was watching that little kite out of my kitchen window being whipped by the wind, I sensed the Lord speaking to me in my spirit, saying, "Cling to Me. Cling to My promises. I know how things look now, but I'm telling you that help is on the way." He reminded me of the Parable of the Sower, and Jesus' words in Luke 8:15 (NLT): "The seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's Word, CLING TO IT, and patiently produce a huge harvest." And the Lord impressed upon me that if that little kite could cling to that tree through three years of stormy weather, then certainly, I could weather the storms of life clinging to God's promises with His Spirit's help - eventually reaping a "huge harvest" of divine rewards, blessings, and opportunities.

In the past three years, we have had six huge trees uprooted from storms, yet that kite has held on tight to one of our remaining trees. Last winter, a fierce storm split the kite's tree in half from top to bottom. My husband warned me not to go near it because it was swaying badly and was sure to fall any minute. I thought that if it did fall, one consolation would be that we would finally be rid of that stubborn kite. But here we are a year later, with the tree and the kite tenaciously holding on in storm after storm. And every time I see them out of my kitchen window, I hear a voice saying, "Hold on. Stand fast. Keep clinging. Your answer is on the way…"

Prayer: Lord, whenever I am faced with troubles of any kind, help me to turn to You first. Give me Your perspective, and help me to respond in a Christlike way. Teach me how to dig into Your Word and discover all of the "exceedingly great and precious promises" that You have for me. (2 Peter 1:4 NKJV) Today, I thank and praise You that Your Word is true, and You are true to Your Word!