Life Waves
By Lisa Bell
The ocean waves crashed onto the beach. Small waves rushed in followed by larger ones that swelled and reached two or three feet in height. The little girl watched each wave as anticipation quivered through her body. She clung to her daddy’s hand and waited. When the wave came close, she stood still. Breathless with wonder, she waited and at the very last second before the wave engulfed her, she jumped. Then she did it all over again.
Her eyes twinkled in the bright sunlight and laughter rang out against the ocean’s roar. Oblivious to anything around her, she delighted in this game. Her face showed only joy without a hint of fear at the constant crash of waves…many of which rushed forward with the capability of swallowing such a tiny creature. She need not fear. Her daddy held her firm; his grip remained strong and secure. Though powerful and somewhat frightening, the waves held no claim over her – not as long as her daddy stood beside her. She never let go of his hand.
I waded out into the ocean to and faced the waves. I waited in anticipation but instead of jumping, I let the water catch me up and push me towards the beach. Exhilaration coursed through me – until a wave thrust me down and my knee scraped against the sand. I headed back out in spite of the sting and the excitement of the next big wave overshadowed my momentary fear of more possible scrapes.
Sometimes the waves knocked me off my feet and I struggled against the tide as one after another the waves hit again and kept me under until I gasped for breath. With my back to the swell of water, the tide caught me off guard. But when I faced the thunderous water and planted my feet, the waves rocked my stance though never took me down. In that moment, my Heavenly Father held my hand and I stood secure in His love.
I need not fear the waves of life because He holds my hand. Sometimes the sea of life seems so strong. I watch waves roll in from the ocean of the unknown and wonder whether the next circumstantial wave will take me under for the last time. Just when the biggest wave of all hits hard, I feel strong arms around me and I hear the Spirit say, “Keep standing firm.” When just a hand isn’t enough, the Lord wraps His arms around my entire being. He holds me with His strong right arm. I picture His powerful arm around me as life’s waves collide against me and I stand strong in His grace.
Like the little girl, I can find joy in the middle of crashing waves. While, I do not anticipate the coming blow with gleeful excitement, I can wait in the Lord and feel secure in His strength and love. On the chance a wave takes me down, I am assured that a very big hand picks me up and protects me from drowning. For even if I let go, my Papa never does.
Isaiah 41:10, 13 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strengthen you; surely, I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand; For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” (NASB)
