For our few days off from ministry in San Jose, a group of us headed to the beach in Costa Rica.
I rented a surfboard for the day. It was an 8’6″ board. I am known as the California surfer girl by my squad, which I love. I paddled out and it was rough. There was no break in the waves. And the waves were strong. The rip current took me down the beach and I was struggling to get pass the break. After about 45 minutes of trying, I got out of the water and walked back down the beach to try again. I paddled out again, but this time I was even more determined than the last. I prayed, God please provide a break in the sets so I can get out there. And he did! As soon as the waves stopped crashing so intensely I paddle out past the break. I was so proud of myself! I had worked so hard to paddle out! A wave came. It was building up and I began to paddle to catch it. I got to the top and looked down and it was double overhead and I freaked myself out. It was huge! Another wave came and the same thing happened. These waves were huge and powerful. I decided to go in a little to try and catch the closer break, but when I tried to do that I got caught in the big break. I looked behind me and a huge wave was about to crash on me. I paddled towards it and dove under. The wave caught my board and I was pulled back and did summer salts underwater. I popped up just in time for another wave to crash on me. The same thing happened except this time the leash on my ankle came loose and my board went sailing to the shore.
I had worked so hard to get out and now there I was out in the ocean watching my board catch a wave to the shore. I was a little frustrated. I wanted to catch a wave and now I had to swim all the way in the get my board.
Meanwhile, on the beach Kristen saw my board come up on the beach and I was nowhere to be found. She started to worry and many thoughts ran through her mind as to what could have happened to me. After five minutes of me nowhere in sight, she ran over to the lifeguard tower and yelled for them to go look for me.
Back in the ocean, I was swimming along making my way back to the shore (it was tough because of the current) when I see a lifeguard coming straight for me. I started to laugh at myself and couldn’t believe a lifeguard was coming out to get me! He yelled for me and asked if I was ok. I told him I was ok, but that didn’t stop him from telling me to grab onto his floatation device and we would float and ride the waves in together. The waves came one after another and we would duck under wave after wave. He would say hold your breath on the count of 3 and then we would go under. I was caught in a rip current so he instructed to swim at an angle to the left. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I was laughing at myself. I was tried from battle the waves before and when the lifeguard got to me I decided why not take advantage of someone wanting to help me.
Back on the beach, Kristen had run up to Paul and David with my board and without me. They began to panic and later I found out they thought I possibly hit my head on the board and I was floating out in the ocean somewhere. As I came into the beach with the lifeguard, Paul and David were running down the beach toward me and I had a big smile on my face! I was ok, but it was nice they were so concerned. I felt loved.
I asked the lifeguard his name and thanked him, and his response “Pura Vida.” Gotta love Costa Rica and gnarly waves.
Life is like an ocean. It’s rough, beautiful, and unpredictable. You paddle out into the waves but only God is the one to help you get past the break. You cannot do it on your own. You can try and he will save you time and time again but He wants you to fully rely on him and pray, and trust he will guide you along and open up a path for you to go out into the deep ocean. However he will never leave you. And it is important to have friends along the beach supporting you, cheering you on, and looking for help when you need it. Never give up the fight. Life is hard, but it is so much easier with Jesus. Catch the waves with him. It’s an adrenaline rush and so much fun!
I am so thankful I was able to have 3 days at the beach. It is a place I feel and see God the most. It is a place I feel refreshed and alive! Jesus makes me feel alive!
