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He's With You in the Waves
 As I write this article, I am enjoying my annual girls weekend get away. I am reclining in peace and quiet in my room overlooking an expanse of beach. It is cloudy blue grey, but I can still see the horizon out in the distance. A group of surfers are bobbing on their surfboards a few yards out, waiting patiently for the wave that will carry them to the shore. Not being a surfer, I would imagine that the excitement and thrill of riding the wave keeps them swimming back out for more. They swim through a number of cresting waves to get out to the seemingly calmer place to wait. What they know from experience and I, as an observer seven floors above, can see is that out past those beautiful white crests is a building wave. The tide forces the serge of water to build then crest and either roll or crash onto the shore. From my perspective many stories above, it is an absolutely breath taking sight. I would imagine that from the surfers perspective, it is a thrilling experience.
But as I sit here I am reminded that life - my life - is much like the beaching ocean. My experiences come to me much like they do to the waiting surfers. Yet many, or let's be honest, most times I am not patiently waiting and watching. I am not resting on my surfboard. The majority of the time I find myself actually in the water trying to avoid the waves. Sometimes, I am personally trying to stay above water. However, most of the time I am trying to help other "surfers" or "drowners" make it over their present wave while trying not to drown in my own. I fight against the waves. What looks beautiful from seven floors up and trilling on the surfboard looks nothing less than scary and exhausting while in the water.
The Holy Spirit is so faithful and kind. He reminds me at this moment of Isaiah 43 in a song I learned many years ago:
When you pass through the waters I will be with you,
And the waves they will not overcome you.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
For I am the Lord your God.
For I am the Lord your God.
I am the Holy One of Israel,
Your Savior. I am the Lord.
When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned,
And the flames they shall not consume you.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
For I am the Lord your God.
For I am the Lord your God.
I am the Holy One of Israel,
Your Savior. I am the Lord.
I would imagine that someone who wants to learn to surf does not wake up one morning, go out and grab a surf board, swim out into the ocean and immediately have the strength, know how, skill, and balance to successfully catch the first wave that come upon her. Neither do we as Christians have the innate strength, know how, skill, and balance to successfully surf the natural waves of life. We have something WAY BETTER!
When we confessed our sin and accepted Christ as our atonement for sin, we were given a little piece of heaven. We were given a deposit of what is to come. We have the Holy Spirit of the Living God residing in and with our spirit. We have the One who created us and formed us actually living in and with us. The One who spoke the ocean in to existence and forms each wave is alive and active in our very lives. Everything He does is purposeful and full of meaning because none of the waves in our lives happen by chance. None of them will crash without meaning.
As I watch the surfers, some of them successfully ride the waves from building to crest to resolution. Others begin and get up on the board only to fall in the middle of the crest. And then there are others cannot even make it up on the board. They all have something in common. All of them fall off at some point, but all of them are suited up with their boards tied strategically to their ankles. They are ready. They are prepared. They go out to meet the waves with different strengths and weaknesses. They know that their strengths will get stronger and will help them in their weaker areas. The surfers also know their weaknesses will be challenged and given the opportunity to gain strength.
God says, "Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, I love you." (Isaiah 43:4a) "Fear not! I am with you." (Isaiah 43:5a).
Many times we see our lives from our own perspective, in the water and struggling to breath. We think of God as being in that 7th floor window watching us and everyone else from a distance with a hopeful heart, critical heart, or even maybe a spiteful heart depending on our backgrounds and even our thoughts and emotions at that time. We either forget or choose not to believe He is in the water with us.
Why would God choose to get in the water with you?
Because dear Sister...
You are precious in His eyes.
You are honored, and
He LOVES YOU!
Dr. A is waiting to help you survive the waves. Post your comments or join Dr. A for a chat in our private and safe forum.
Ashley is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed professional counseling in the state of Louisiana. She has been counseling for over 12 years and currently serves as the Clinical Director of Restoration Counseling, a Christian counseling practice in New Orleans, LA. Ashley is also adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has previously taught for North Greenville University and Liberty University. Dr. A and her husband, Dr. Page Brooks, have been married almost eleven years. They have 2 daughters, Karis (5 years old) and Alethia (3 years old) and Josiah Carson (17 mo. old). The Lord has used adoption as the means by which He has expanded the Brooks family. The Lord has given the Brooks a passion for specifically multi-racial adoption. (read more)
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