Rustling in the Trees

A Person Reflection on Revival

April 14th, 2025

There’s something about spring around home...

that I look forward to each year—especially after the stillness of winter. The way the breeze stirs the treetops, making them sway and dance as the fading light of evening settles in, always brings a sense of peace. And, of course, there’s something magical about the sounds of spring—like the gentle chirping of birds at Augusta National during the Masters. As the players take their swings, the birds sing as if in perfect harmony with the action, reminding us of the beauty of new life that comes with the season. But if you’ve lived here long enough, you know how quickly those gentle winds can turn into something more fierce. The rising temperatures often give way to sudden storms, with winds that seem to shake everything in their path.

I’ve noticed something about revival that’s similar to this. Sometimes, it comes like a soft breeze—gently stirring our hearts, quietly moving us toward God. Other times, it’s more like a storm—unpredictable, powerful, and sweeping through everything in its way. But no matter how it comes, both are signs of God at work, and both leave us changed in ways we could never have imagined.

The Breeze: Gentle and Persistent

Not all revivals are dramatic or make headlines. Sometimes, revival starts quietly—just a whisper, a prayer, a small group of people coming together with hearts set on seeking God. Like the rustling of leaves, these movements can seem unnoticeable at first, but they shift the atmosphere in lasting ways.

I think of the Moravian Revival of 1727. In a small village in Herrnhut, Germany, a group of believers came together after a season of division. They gathered for prayer, repentance, and unity—and God’s Spirit settled among them. What followed wasn’t loud or flashy, but it was powerful. They began a 100-year prayer meeting and launched one of the most influential missionary movements in history. It was a breeze that spread all over the world.

The Community House of Herrnhut (in what is now Saxony, Germany) was the spiritual and practical heart of the Moravian Revival of 1727

Or take the Layman’s Prayer Revival of 1857 to 1858. It started in New York City with a single, humble prayer meeting led by a businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier. There was no grand production, no big name speakers—just a simple gathering at noon to pray. But before long, thousands of people across the country were joining in. Over a million people came to Christ. It wasn’t about one person or a flashy event—it was the quiet, persistent breath of God at work.

The North Dutch Church Consistory Building holds a special place in the story of the Laymen's Prayer Revival of 1857–1858, as it was the birthplace of the movement

There are also the countless revivals that happen in places we might never hear about—like in a Sunday School class where a teacher has a fresh encounter with the gospel and communicates it with renewed passion. Or in the heart of a church member who starts a ministry to help the hurting in their community. Or in the quiet moment when one believer shares their faith with a friend or family member—and a soul is awakened to Christ.

These may not make the news, but they bear lasting fruit. These breezes don’t shake buildings, but they shape hearts. They don’t make headlines, but they bear eternal fruit. And they remind us that revival is not limited to history books. It can happen wherever God's Spirit moves—even in the quiet corners of faithful obedience.

“Revival above everything else is a glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is the restoration of Him to the center of the life of the Church.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The Storm: Sudden and Sweeping

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? - Psalm 85:6

Then, there are those times when God moves with undeniable force. Revival comes like a storm—unmistakable, uncontainable, and powerful. One of the most dramatic examples in church history is the First Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s. This was a time when revival swept through the American colonies, igniting a passion for God’s holiness and the need for new birth. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and Gilbert Tennent stood in pulpits and proclaimed the holiness of God and the necessity of repentance. The results were astounding—churches were packed, lives were transformed, and entire communities were shaken by the weight of eternity.

historical illustration or engraving of George Whitefield preaching during the First Great Awakening—a revival movement that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s.

This wasn’t a movement stirred by emotion or manufactured hype. It was a deep, God-ordained return to the Word of God and a renewed awareness of sin, grace, and the glory of Christ. Jonathan Edwards himself called it "a surprising work of God," and though it came like a storm, it bore lasting fruit. Conversions multiplied, and a thirst for sound doctrine spread across the colonies.

The Welsh Revival of 1904 to 1905 is another example. It began with a young man named Evan Roberts, burdened with a deep longing for God to awaken his homeland. As he and others began to pray and preach, the Spirit of God moved swiftly across Wales. Churches were filled overnight. Taverns emptied. Crime rates plummeted. Singing and repentance broke out in the streets. The national conscience was gripped by the holiness of God. This wasn’t a gradual shift—it was a sudden, sweeping wind that redefined a people. It was clear that God had come near.

This image is a historical photograph postcard of Evan Roberts' last revival meeting in Anglesey, dated July 4th, 1905

“When revival comes, it changes the moral climate of a community.” — Michael Catt

When the Wind Blows

I’ve come to realize that whether revival comes like a gentle breeze or a mighty storm, it’s always God who’s at work. We can’t manufacture it, manipulate it, or control it. But what we can do is wait, pray, and prepare our hearts for the movement of the Spirit.

Throughout church history, God has often worked in response to seasons of focused prayer, preaching, and worship. These deliberate, scheduled efforts—revival meetings, solemn assemblies, and times of intense prayer—have been tools God has used to stir His people. But even in those seasons, it wasn’t the calendar or the event that brought revival—it was always God breathing life into dry bones.

Revival isn’t about emotional fervor or a cultural noise. It’s about exalting Christ, submitting to the authority of Scripture, acknowledging our sin, and seeing lives transformed by His grace. Sometimes, it comes slowly, quietly, one heart at a time. Other times, it comes suddenly, sweeping through entire communities. But in every case, it begins with God and always points back to His glory.

So, I find myself watching the treetops, listening for the rustling of the leaves, and praying for the wind of the Spirit to blow once again. I pray that God would move, whether it’s in a quiet whisper or a mighty gust. And I ask Him to breathe life into us—into our churches, our communities, and our hearts—whether He comes like a gentle breeze or a roaring storm.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." - Zech. 4:6

Grace and peace,

Zach Watson

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