Truths in the Sea

“In oceans deep//My faith will stand.”

– “Oceans (Where feet may fail)” by Hillsong United

 

     I am currently in Myanmar, living in a small beach town with team Lighthouse. Having been in the city for a while last month in Nepal, it is nice to come to a calmer part of the world. While we have been in this chill environment I have had a lot of time to go to the beach. Lucky enough for me it is my happy place. I grew up near the coast, so getting a chance to head to the beach feels like home. I find it relaxing, refreshing, and rich.

 

     Earlier this week we went on a boat to celebrate Stokes’ birthday. And while on that boat I stared out at the endless sea. I watched waves gentle rolling from beyond the islands in the distance up toward the shoreline. I stared mesmerized at the simple beauty of the water. Knowing that on the surface were these deep blue waves, while underneath was another world filled with creatures, plants, and mystery. I was in awe for a moment, and a few worship songs spilled from my heart to God. As I sang out loud on the boat, I marveled at the beauty before me. I marveled at the thought that I was allowed to see the Bay of Bengal with my own eyes. What a gift. 

 

     While singing, other thoughts popped into my mind. I looked at the ocean and raked through the information I had stowed away about God- who He is and what I have experienced as I have walked with Him. I began to draw correlations between the two: the ocean and God. 

                                       

     The ocean is large covering so much of the earth, God is also larger than life itself. In fact, He is the creator of life. 

 

     Within the ocean there is much we humans know about, but there is still mysterious parts to it. Depths to still be uncovered and understood. This was also like God. We have the Word and are able to grasp so many concepts about Him: His character, that He is creator, that He is both just and loving. But there is also so much about God that we don’t yet know. That we don’t understand and cannot begin to fathom. 

 

     The ocean is also at times calm, peaceful and restful, yet it can also be wild and unpredictable. It is not safe, but good. This is also like God. He is loving, kind, and patient, but He is also just, righteous, and powerful. We cannot contain Him and with that comes the need for a healthy fear of Him.

 

     The ocean also has waves of various sizes that come up to the shoreline and crash constantly. This is like God’s Grace. It is never ending, always coming in wave after wave, like grace up on grace. Similarly it is like His love, constantly crashing over us thus reminding us of the abundance of it and His consistency in giving it to us. 

 

     Lastly, the ocean is large enough to hold the worlds population and then some. God is also able to hold us in His hands. And not only that, but he can hold more. He can hold our worries, our fears, our dreams, he can hold our brokenness, our mistakes, our lives. He is larger than life, powerful, beautiful, mysterious, and peaceful. 

 

     I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be here near the beach. God knows that nature is one sure way to communicate different truths about Himself to me. Being reminded via the sea was reassuring knowing that God is active in this place and in His children. These are just few simple truths found in the sea.