~Psalm 98:7
One author writes:
As I sat on the beach recently, I was watching a young boy. He stood on the edge of the ocean getting his feet and ankles wet, watching the waves. But not only was he watching the waves come, he was directing the tide. As he would see a wave begin to form, he would plant his feet wide apart but firmly on the sand crouched – ready for battle. He would stretch one arm firmly towards the wave pointing at it with an authoritative air. His other arm was behind him bent upward – almost as if about to throw an invisible javelin. As the crest would form on the wave, he would move his outstretched finger-pointed arm towards the beach, in a gesture that was “waving” the wave in towards the shore. Finally he would end with his finger pointed in the direction of the beach. It was eminently clear that he was commanding the tide – or at least he thought he was!
It made me think - Isn't this how we tend to handle life? We expend a ton of energy trying to control all the events and outcomes in our lives!
When I looked back over, the boy had tired of that game – because as you know, commanding the tide is exhausting work! Now, instead, he was laughing and splashing around; sometimes jumping over the waves; sometimes allowing them to splash against his legs. The waves still came, without his guidance.
Waves, as rough as they may seem at times (like this year!), are always under the control of our Heavenly Father. If we recognize that they will always be there, I wonder how much more joy we would experience if we learned to trust God with the waves in our lives.
You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.
~Psalm 89:9
Learning to leave the tide to Him...