Skip to main content

At the Water's Edge




The sun slowly drops into the water, and feeble rays of sunlight cast long shadows of masts and sails on the rickety dock. The breeze coming off the water gently cools my sun-burned face. I close my eyes, and I drink in the humid air. I should have gone in hours ago, but there’s something about being right next to the water that draws me in, that beckons me to stay.

So many of life’s lessons can be learned at the edge of a dock. Watching the gentle waves reminds me of the Lord’s goodness. His lovingkindness never ends, and He will wash over me wave after wave. When I make a mistake, He doesn’t change—the waves don’t stop—I do. I have to make sure I don’t stop, because I have to trust that He won’t.

The tremendous power of the water reminds me how small and insignificant I really am. The only way I can make a substantial change to that expanse of water is repeatedly making consistent movements. If I persevere, then it can take me across the expanse of water where I want to go. If I give up, or if I stop, the water will consume me. In the same way, I also can’t tread water forever. I have to move in one direction or another. If I don’t reach shore at some point, then I will tire out and drown.

And drowning isn’t the only horrific thing that could happen on the water. There are unknown dangers lurking just beneath the surface. Will those dangers—or the possibility of failure—prevent me from jumping in—or trying something new? I have found that the answer must be no. I cannot let hidden dangers—or fear—prevent me from becoming all that God has created me to be.

The steadfastness of the Lord's love, the perseverance I must have, the faith regardless of circumstances are just the few lessons I've learned next to the water. But I don't want to stay next to the water. I want to be called out upon the water. The Hillsong United song, Oceans, speaks about how God "call[s] me out upon the waters/ The great unknown where feet may fail/ And there I find You in the mystery/ In oceans deep/ My faith will stand."

 I want the Lord to call me out upon the water, just like He called Peter in Matthew 14. I want to keep my eyes on the Lord. I don't want to be "ye of little faith." I want to be of great faith. When fear surrounds me, I want my gaze affixed to the Lord. When the storm is upon me, I want Jesus to hold out His hand to me and keep me safe. I want to walk in that faith every day. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jesus Would Advocate for Civil Disobedience

In March, executive orders from governors across the country forced us to stay home, to close schools and churches and to shut down private businesses. Businesses were classified as either "essential" or "non-essential." All businesses deemed "non-essential" were forced to close. This included markets, clothing stores, boutiques, dine-in restaurants, and beauty salons. State parks, city parks, beaches, walking trails, lakes, and other wide open spaces were closed as well. Many people feel that the "social distancing," as it has come to be known, and stay at home executive orders violate their constitutional rights, such as our first amendment right to freely exercise our religion, our right to peaceably assemble, and that we shall not be deprived of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Some of the people who feel their rights have been violated have decided to exercise their First Amendment right to protest. Some have even chosen
3 comments
Read more

Covert Red Flags: The Real Things You Should Be Looking Out For in Relationships

Your relationship with your spouse should be the closest human relationship you ever have. As we are dating, we are assessing whether or not that person could potentially fit into our inner circle. This causes us to be on high alert for red flags. Most red flags are obvious--lack of communication, anger issues, irresponsibility, controlling behavior, abuse, etc. A quick Google search will bring up list upon list of red flags we should look out for. Being rude to waitstaff, not making your relationship public, not caring about XYZ, stone walling, gaslighting, and more can all be found on most lists. But what about the covert red flags? Those things that are less obvious. My first marriage taught me to look out for the overt red flags like the ones found in every advice column. My second marriage taught me to look out for covert red flags, ones that I never even realized were red flags until I could look back. The entire time we dated, I kept looking for the overt red fla
2 comments
Read more

Because of Who I Am

Someone posted on Facebook the other day the following: Why would you fight for someone who clearly doesn't want you? Please let them go. You are valuable, just not to them. I thought about it for a minute, because I indeed fought for my husband when he clearly didn't want me. I fought for our marriage, even when he had zero interest in making our marriage work. He had already checked out and told me point-blank that he just didn't want to work on our marriage, but yet I fought on my knees before the Lord. Throughout the first few months of our separation, I prayed day-in and day-out. I beseeched the Lord to intercede. I rebuked Satan, and I prostrated myself before the Lord God Almighty. I went to therapy, and I watched sermons online. I listened to every Jimmy Evans podcast I could find. I journaled and devoured God's Word. I wrote my husband scriptures and prayers daily. I soon filled a 100-page journal front and back. Shortly after he left in June
Post a Comment
Read more