The Waves Beyond
'Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.' Psalm 27:14
Insight
It was a beautiful and sunny day at the beach. The air was crisp, the sand was hot, and the sea was blue. My daughter and I were catching waves on our boogie boards, laughing it up. She was little then, maybe 5 or 6 years old, and could only see the wave coming at us, nothing beyond. I, however, being much bigger than her, could see farther out and had a good view of other waves rolling in.
I told her it was important to catch the right wave. Some waves were too big, and we might get hurt. Others were too small and wouldn't be worth the effort. But if we waited for the right one, we'd have the ride of a lifetime. She asked me how she would know when the right wave came if all she could see was the one in front of her. The answer was easy: When I go, you go. When I stay, you stay.
All my daughter had to do was look at me and follow my lead. Because she trusted me, this came naturally. She trusted that I had good intentions for her well-being because I'm her mama, and I love her. She believed that I could see more than she could, and therefore was able to relax by my side as we waited for the best wave.
There are times when what's in front of us is all we can see. The inability to see further can be frightening and confusing. Take comfort in this: God is bigger than you and me. He sees everything, so we can always look to Him for safety and guidance. He knows what is best for us and has good intentions for our well-being because He is our Heavenly Father who loves us.
When we can't see the waves beyond, let's look to God and follow His lead, even when He tells us to wait.
Reflection
Do you find it difficult or easy to trust God? Why did you answer the way you did?
Trust is gained through a relationship. Carve out time daily to be with God. This will help deepen your relationship with Him. Spend time in His Word, write out your thoughts and prayers in a journal, practice memorizing scripture.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give us the strength to seek You in the wait. We want to see the big picture but are called to walk by faith and not sight. Help us to trust that You see everything. Therefore, we can confidently look to You for direction. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Port City's Care Groups Coordinator Mandy Hughes wrote today's devotional
