The sky was covered by a wispy gray blanket with just enough holes to let through a few glowing rays of early afternoon sunlight. The sand was warm on the surface, but cooler beneath as I buried my toes and sat down. The air was crisp, but not biting, and it smelled of salt and driftwood. Save for a few people farther down, the beach was quiet and empty, with nothing to hear but the waves crashing on the shore.
As the conversation with my friend Ashley lulled to a companionable silence and we sat just enjoying each other's company, I gazed out at the water and let the sound of the waves fill my thoughts. I will always love the ocean, not only for its breathtaking beauty but also for everything it has taught me.
The ocean is faithful. It is constant, the ebb and flow of the tide never cease to be. It never dries up, never tires, never falters. It just is each and every day and all through the night, an ever-present reminder of the faithfulness of its Creator. As vast as the ocean is, it has both a beginning and an end, but the faithfulness of our eternal God is forever. It reaches beyond the horizon, farther than any eye could ever see. Our all-powerful, fully sovereign God—who works all things for our good and His glory—is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The waves of the ocean mesmerize me; I could watch them for hours. One wave comes in bringing in new rocks, shells and debris, and pulling others out to sea when it recedes, and then another wave rises up in its place, and then another and another, over and over. The waves remind me of God's grace in my life. No matter how much I desire to walk in obedience to God, I make mistakes, and I will continue to do so until the One who started a good work in me completes it on the other side of eternity because I am a sinful being. But the redeeming work of Christ on the cross washes me in wave after wave of grace. I am washed clean and purified by the just and merciful love of my Savior.
As much as I love the ocean, I've learned to have a healthy fear of its strength. Even at beaches where the waves seem more tranquil, the pull of the tide is immensely powerful. Three summers ago I spent a few weeks in El Salvador on a mission trip. We drove to the beach on one of our days off, and after eating lunch many of us raced into the water. The warmth of the water made it inviting; we didn't want to stay only ankle-deep or even waist deep. It felt so pleasant and refreshing until we realized that the undertow at this beach was stronger than we thought. My friend Katie and I were in up to our necks, yelling at team members who were even farther out to come back in. But they couldn't. A couple of bigger waves pummeled us around and suddenly Katie and I could no longer touch the bottom ourselves. We looked at each other, our eyes wide with fear as we realized what was happening. I remember thinking, as I struggled to keep myself above the waves, that there was no way I was going to make it in. I was terrified, and with no other options available, I began to pray. I cried out for God to save me, and in a way more tangible than any time before or since, my heart was filled with peace and my mind with clarity. Instead of fighting the next incoming wave, I ducked under it, resurfaced to catch my breath and then started swimming harder than I ever had before. When I could finally reach the bottom again, I dug my feet into the sand each time the current went out, only taking them out to let the next wave push me slightly closer to shore before digging them in again. After what felt like hours, but in reality was only minutes, I was waist deep and able to walk the rest of the way out onto the beach, where I collapsed on the sand, trembling in fear and exhaustion.
The ocean almost took our lives that day, but the God who made it is greater. His power is stronger and His will always prevail. Every time I go to the ocean I am reminded that my fear is all for nothing. Even the wind and the waves, as strong as they are, are subject to God's mighty power. The ocean reminds me that if He is capable of controlling such powerful forces, He is fully capable of protecting me. Time after time I try to take control of my circumstances, but the ocean reminds me my life is safest in His hands, for His infinite power is far greater.
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is where Peter walks out to meet Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. As long as he remains focused on Christ, he is able to walk on the water, but as soon as he becomes distracted by the waves, he begins to sink. For me, the ocean will forever serve as a reminder of God's great love, of his power, his grace and his faithfulness to me. As I sat on the beach earlier this week, I found myself reflecting on a recent Bible study focusing on community and on learning to listen to others attentively. God often speaks to us through others, but if I don't listen, I miss His still small voice. He speaks through His creation too. There were few distractions as I sat staring out at the waves, and I had nothing to do but listen to the ocean. This is what it had to say.
