“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,”
Psalm 148:7 NIV
For five days I have lingered, listening to the sound of the ocean, watching the waves that are never and always the same dance to their self perpetuated music. Calming, peaceful, constant… I am conscious of my every effort to open up, take it all in and tuck it away for safe keeping for the days that I will not have the pleasure or ability to do so.
The ocean. I’ve walked beside it, waded into it, sat in front of it and stared for countless hours upon it. It is beautiful and soothing to my inward most parts. I’ve pondered it’s depths and width and length. The sheer vastness of it is humbling, reminding me in one swift glance of the greatness of our God. Surely the ocean is an adequate earthly reflection of the power, glory and majesty of the Lord. And even as I walked upon the shore discussing these things with Him, He reminded me that this is only one of many beaches, shores and oceans that exist by His creative power.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Isaiah 40:12
Spending time at the ocean causes me to become quiet and introspective- at rest. I am visually reminded in splendor that there is so much that is bigger than me and beyond my ability to fathom, comprehend or understand. When I am beside the ocean, I find that I am able to let go of the wrestling that so often occurs in my head and my heart ever striving to try to understand everything that I do not, working to try to figure everything out and trying to be in control of everything that I’m really not.
When keeping company with the sea, I am able to just let go and “be.”
He says, “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
The truth, is that I’m no more capable of “figuring it all” out in the throes of everyday life than I am here in the presence of the sand, seashells and sound of ocean waves roaring in my ears. Somehow though, I forget.
I can spend countless hours thinking…about how to get things to work out the way I want them to.
I have spent countless hours worrying…about how it will be if they don’t.
So much wasted time and energy on that which is unproductive.
And so, today I am thankful for the ocean. I am thankful that it stretches so far out that I cannot see the end of it. I’m thankful that it is so deep, even at it’s beginnings, that my toes cannot touch the bottom. I’m thankful for the way that it tosses and turns, as if it has a schedule of its own rising higher or diminishing as the day grows long. I’m thankful that I have no control over the sea.
This truth offers me a life-giving reminder that it really isn’t my job to be “in control.” It is only my job to BE.
To BE still and know that He is God.
To BE obedient to His every leading.
To BE quick to hear and obey His voice.
To BE diligent to hide His Word in my heart.
To BE His daughter and everything that that means.
Father, thank you for the beauty of the ocean. Thank you for the beauty of the truth that all that I must BE is a child of the King.
My Father's Daughter 