Lessons Learned from the Shore
“Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.” Psalm 104:25 (NLT)
I have been cleaning the photos off my phone and realized I had not made our summer vacation book from this year. As I swiped through pictures, I was reminded of how much I love the shore. The shore, the beach, the ocean, whatever you call it, is the most glorious and peaceful place on our planet. At least that is my opinion. I absolutely love any chance I get to sit on the sandy shore and listen to the waves crash over and over and over. I am the person who can never get enough of being there and takes every chance I get to go back.
One thing can add to the glory of the ocean and that is to be at the ocean with our grandsons! This past summer I had the privilege of snuggling under the beach umbrella with our newest grandson while he slept which gave me a lot of thinking and praying time. As I gazed over the blue-green waters and studied the majesty and consistency of the waves rolling in, I realized the ocean had taught me quite a few things about God.
-The ocean rolls in and out day after day and is constant. It does this whether I am there or not-the ocean never leaves, just as God will never leave us.
-The waves roll up onto the shore as if always trying to reach me. They consistently try to catch me time after time. God will never give up on me.
-Just dipping my toes in the cool water is refreshing. Just as dipping into scripture refreshes my soul. I may not get the full benefit of studying, but His Word always changes me, even in little bits.
-There is a variety of people doing a variety of things-sitting under umbrellas, surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, walking, sunbathing, and snuggling babies! Such a picture of the beautiful people God created and sent His son to die for.
-So many are drawn to the shore, but some do not know what to do with it. Some fear it, some admire it, and some are in awe of it. So many feel this way about God. They may fear Him, admire Him, or even be in awe of Him, but it is our choice to embrace Him and jump in fully.
-The salt in the ocean is a healer. It can help our skin, sore throats, and heals wounds, just as Jesus is our Healer, internally and externally.
-The salt can also sting, taste bitter, and burn our eyes which is what conviction does to us. The thing is, after the sting we can swim again, and we remember to not do the same thing to sting again!
-Some have had a bad experience at the beach, whether sunburn or stung by a jellyfish, but that does not change the fact that the ocean is constant and majestic. The ocean is still the ocean regardless of how we perceive it. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
-Lastly, and it is my favorite lesson learned, I cannot see where the ocean ends which reminds me of two incredible truths. Truth one is that my sin is so far removed from me that God will never remember it or bring it back to shame me. Truth two is that His love for me has no ending and will go on forever.
What an awesome God we serve. His creation is an amazing representation of Who He is!