Waves

Are you a water person?  I’m not, Oh I love to look at a beautiful peaceful lake, and I like to take a good warm shower – but I’m not thrilled about being in a swimming pool, and I’m scared to death of being in a lake where I can’t see the bottom, or the ocean where the waves push me around.

I remember one time we were out on a lake with some friends.  They were all swimming around, and jumping off the side of the boat.  Being the chicken that I am, I said I’d rather stay in the boat.  That didn’t go over well with this particular group of friends and after a whole bunch of badgering, I consented to get in the water – with a life jacket, and an inner tube. 

At that point, though, the fear took over and I struggled to stay afloat – I know, if I’d just relaxed I would have been fine, but as it was, I went under, due to all my panic and splashing.  That’s pretty amazing to almost drown with a life jacket on and holding on to the inner tube for dear life.  Sometimes our fears in life are just as unreasonable. 

When you’re on a beach looking at waves coming in to the shore, or when you look at a picture of the ocean, do you think of those waves as more than water? 

Waves, one after another, wash up on the shores of our lives.  They are the events that come unrelentingly, minute by minute, day by day (like the waves do.)  They may change their shapes, but seem to go on forever.

Some are turbulent, some calm, some destructive, or some refresh you with their coolness. 

Think about the waves of your life. 

You were a baby, a child, an adult, a senior citizen – you’ve lived through moves, marriages, children, illnesses, and death of loved ones.  These events were the waves washing up on the shore of your life.  Sometimes they were gentle and pleasant waves, and sometimes they played havoc with your world. 

But one big thing that we need to remember about this ocean of life is that someone is in control.  That someone – our Father, creator, watches the waves. 

Sometimes He changes the course of their flow.  Sometimes He shields us, if the waves would be hurtful.  At those times He’s the rock that we can stand on – the safe place in the storm.  Sometimes God stands beside us on the sand and steadies us so that the particularly violent waves don’t wash our feet out from under us.

 And sometimes He carries us out of the way when the tidal waves of our world would destroy us. 

Sometimes He revels with us in the cool refreshment of gentler waves.  He’s there to help and to guide, but He’s also there to enjoy the relationship we have with Him. 

Do you ever think about God walking through this life with you – splashing through the waves with you?  Do ever think that He actually enjoys being with you? 

Picture yourself on the seashore; you’re sitting on the sand as the waves come in.  It’s a hot day and the cool ocean brings refreshment.  God is by your side and you’re laughing and talking about the stuff the surf is bringing as it washes over you. 

Then picture the waves bringing something that’s not so much fun, that’s even maybe pretty awful. Picture the waves washing over you threatening to cover you, to pull you out into the ocean.   But you aren’t afraid.  After all, the one who is with you in the waves is the one who made that ocean – there is no need to fear.

He made the waves – the waters

Remember Genesis 1 (NIV) "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

God created the ocean, the waves, and the water. 

And God can control the waves – the waters. 

Mark 4 tells us how Jesus calmed the storm.

Also remember that He is with you in the waves, in your life, on your walk. 

Isaiah 30:31 (NIV) says

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

Because He cares for you, you don’t have to worry about what the waves will bring into your life.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) we read  ^"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. . . . "

So as you think about the waves in the ocean and lakes, and you think about the waves that have washed up on the shores of your life, changing it – be sure to remember - 

He made the waves – He’s the creator

He can control the waves – He’s all powerful

He’s with you in the waves – it’s a relationship

He cares for you – It’s His love