The sea is full this afternoon. It never runs dry no matter how many times it crashes upon the shore giving, giving of its self once more. The shore never runs dry no matter how many times the waves reach forward to grab it. The sandy shore stands firm, guarding the land.
I love going to the ocean as I am sure you do too. People of all backgrounds flock here every year. Many of them are different colors, speak different languages, and come from many far away places. Yet each year the ocean calls them. People may not know it, but I think God calls them to the ocean. You cannot gaze at the ocean and not know that God is just as real and influential in our lives. Many people will say they come to the ocean to relax, think, flirt, have fun, to have a pizza picnic, go shopping, build a sandcastle, make memories with their family, or race up and down the seashore. But I think the real reason people come to the beach is to know God in a deeper more intimate way. If you are still you can know that He is God. I think that many times people of this day and age are afraid to be still. They are afraid to face reality. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Ps. 46:1-2.
The ocean is God’s way of calling all of us closer to His heart. For those of us who have been in fellowship with Him for a while the ocean draws us to drop worldly distractions and simply sit at His feet and listen to His heartbeat. God uses the storm, the sweet evening breeze, the morning sun, and the constant waves to teach me who He is. For those who don’t know Christ, the ocean is a way of speaking the name of Jesus over and over again. We keep turning away from Christ. But He continually washes His love upon us asking us to go deeper with Him. JESUS died on the cross and rose again. He comes for us asking us to lose ourselves completely in Him and to go deeper in Him. Nature never grows weary of praising the name of Jesus. Never. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by that things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20.
Last night I stood on the balcony transfixed on the movement of the waves. God has blessed me beyond measure and I am grateful. But sometimes I think the holes in my life seem bigger than other times. I am thankful that there are spots in my life that feel incomplete or empty. Because than I am ready to be filled by God. When a child digs a hole in the sand, the water soon comes and fills it. The sandy hole is moist but not full of water after a minute because the water drains out. That is like me. Once I am saved I am forever saved. But being filled with the presence of Jesus is a daily choice. I can choose to be filled with me and what I want when I want it, or I can choose to be filled with Him. Choosing Jesus is a constant battle. Sometimes I do what’s right and sometimes I do not. As I stood on the balcony last night I felt God calling me closer. I confessed some of my longings to God and my fears for the future. I could hear the lapping of the waves upon the darkened shore and knew that the same God the made the sea would guide my heart closer to Him and closer to His ways.
“Delight yourself also in the Lord and will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4.
I am learning to delight, and Jesus is giving me more of Himself. Thank you Jesus!
❤ ❤
Love,
Sarah ❤
Thorns amidst the Roses 