Have you ever been hit with a wave in the ocean you didn’t expect and it smacked you, threw you for a loop, and physically rolled you? Like you stopped paying attention for a moment or were distracted by your comfortability. If you catch your breath after getting rolled it’s at best a relief and also it’s HOPEFULLY at worst an embarrassing moment, plus the lifeguards doubt you are paying attention AND you get all this annoying sand inside your swimsuit. Don’t get rolled.
My friend taught me to go further out into the ocean, past where the waves break, to be where you can barely touch but enjoy and go with the flow of the waves, that’s more fun out there. And I have become more comfortable there, especially going with a friend. However taking a flotation device might lure you to not paying attention and you get naturally carried farther, put out to sea. Don’t panic, just wake up and swim in. Listen for lifeguards before you go too far. Come back. Catch a wave if you dare. But don’t get rolled.
Now I am both talking about the shore, how to enjoy the ocean, AND HOW TO STEP OUT IN LIFE, how to navigate and keep yourself upright when life crashes into you or waves come that are over your head. Don’t get rolled. But if you do, just stand back up. It’s less important whose watching you fall than whose supporting you getting up and whose wanting you to survive. And better yet teach you to navigate and help you next time, that’s how you THRIVE.
Again, I’m really talking about life. And going into the fray of life to remember to stay above the worldliness of life. It is better to keep your wits together and trust in the Lord and His guidance than to attempt to go it alone. It’s not just the comfortability of going further out to the sea of unknown, it’s both trusting in Him and relying less on your own bravado. Taking His Hand because He’s already offering it. And don’t just sit on the beach and watch others, Life is for Living and venturing outside your comfort zone. The Lord will take you and keep you within HIS. Be in His Zone. The Lord will always have His comfort available. He will always take you farther and further.
Are we going to brave the big waves in life? Best if we pay attention, but yes we need to be out there. Is it going to be scary? Only if we don’t take our eyes off Him. Best also we travel in pairs. Best we have both someone watching your back and you theirs. Often you can see how they navigate life and even DIVE into the big waves. We are not to be taken off guard, know the challenges and deal with those we don’t know in smart ways. We are best to learn.
Sometimes, you get rolled from a big wave and are done for the day, sit and rest and regroup. Sometimes you go back in right away. So, if you hesitate, KNOW that there is going to be a FRESH DAY, a NEXT day, and a GOOD day to GO BACK into the water. Go with the Lord to where He needs to to be. In life, trust Him, keep swimming and even trust Him enough to rise above the waves of life. Ask Peter if he saw any waves while he was walking on water to Jesus. I bet they were still there and rough. FOCUS on JESUS. Rise above the waves. Let the waves crash themselves. Stay safe with Jesus.
And if you sink? Start swimming. And if you look back up at Jesus – His Hand is already there for you to grab. Start again.
Better yet, ask Jesus into your boat and float. He knows the Way.
Amen
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Jesus got up and spoke sharp words to the wind and the high waves. The wind stopped blowing and there were no more waves. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” The followers were surprised and afraid. They said to each other, “What kind of a man is He? He speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey Him.” Luke 8:24-25
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Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:27-33
Debbie Upper 