Lessons from the ocean

Both the iPhone and Facebook reminded me yesterday that we took a family vacation Mexico, five summers ago. And, as I remember it, the best part of that week was the opportunity to do my daily devotionals on the beach [being of Indian origin, in the shade, of course 🙂 ]. It truly was a blessed time of reflection and rest… and a good reminder to me that God is the same… yesterday, today, and forever! Here are some lessons I learned from the ocean.

Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger? Who has put all the earth’s dirt in one of his baskets, or weighed each mountain and hill? Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business?

The vastness of the ocean is amazing… so immense and mighty that even a huge tanker looks tiny on the horizon. And it goes by sheer logic that the God who spoke this vast ocean, earth, and sky into existence, has to be bigger, more powerful and greater than all of His creation! Why then do I worry and fret and go through my days in a state of anxiousness?

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…. (Psalm 33: 18)

Abi, our youngest, loves swimming in the ocean. And the truth is – I’m terrified. So, every time she went into the water, it was very stressful for me. But as afraid as I was of the pounding surf, I’d stand there at the edge of the ocean just to keep watch over her. She seemed so tiny, and the waves so huge! And, despite the many children swimming in the water, until she came out, my eye was on my child. It is so reassuring to me to know that if *His eye is on the (tiny) sparrow… I know He watches me.

For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favour upon favour, and gift heaped upon gift]. (John 1: 16)

I was totally in awe of the power of the pounding surf! It would wash over my feet and whenever I was distracted by something, it would knock me over and drag me in! And sitting in the water, trying to regain my balance before the next wave came in, I had this picture of God’s grace overwhelming me exactly like those waves. One wave took the place of the next, even before the other had ended! God’s grace is as endless as that pounding surf – and you know, we don’t have to do anything to earn it. It’s just a gift from an Awesome God.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” (Acts 3:19)

If you’re walking the beach at dusk, you can be sure you’ll be dodging sand forts, pictures of hearts and names drawn in the sand. But, if you walk the beach in the early hours of the morning, it’s like a beautiful, brand new world. The foaming surf washes it all clean every night. How wonderful it is to know that when we repent, God wipes our sins clean, makes us brand new – and as a bonus, gives us times of refreshing.

Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)

Your boat might be tiny in the ocean of life friends, but the Word of God promises that He is Sovereign and Ruler over all! Isn’t that a comforting thought?

* His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civilla D. Martin