01/01/2022
Every year my family and I take a trip to the beach. One of my favorite things to do, while there, is to go bodysurfing. I remember during my teenage years; the waves were really big because of a tropical storm that was passing by in the ocean. Looking out at the big waves gave me a brilliant idea... I’d bodysurf like never before! I waded into the water and gazed out over the vast expanse of the ocean. I began to try and judge which waves were capable of taking me back to the shoreline. It was then that a huge wave began to form in the distance so I decided to wait for it. I bobbed up and down as wave upon wave passed by me and then I saw my opportunity. The wave of a lifetime was directly in front of me. As the excitement grew within my teenage body, I turned toward the beach and began to swim with all of my might. The power of the wave was pulling me back out to sea and then it seemed as though I was in complete harmony with the ocean itself as the wave picked up my body and started to propel me towards the beach. And then it happened, as the wave began to come crashing down my mind shifted from elation to complete terror. You see, I had underestimated the power of the wave and it threw me, face first, into the ocean floor. Once I had hit the bottom it began to tumble me, much like a load of laundry in the drier. The harder I fought the worse it was. I was using all of my energy trying to save myself from the fears that began to grip me and it wasn’t until I relaxed that the wave finally let go of me and I was able to escape. I swan the rest of the way back to the beach and vowed never to test the strength of the ocean again. Problem is, may times we test the power of the world with the same mindset. Sin, though it seems fun at first, has a way taking us down and presents the feeling of drowning. We try and try to overcome the downfalls in our life and God simply desires for us to let go and allow Him to strengthen us to complete His will. We see this in scripture also. In the book of Matthew, Jesus is walking on the water towards the disciples' boat during the storm of a lifetime. Peter wanted to test God and asked Jesus to call him out to Himself on the water. Jesus obliged and as Peter began to step out, then fear got in the way. He had lost his faith and he began to sink and it wasn't until He cried out to Jesus that he was saved from drowning. Often times, we approach the changing of the calendar with a vigor and zeal to do good and change XYZ about our lives. But friend, hard times will come and our faith will be tested. When this happens, DON’T BE DISCOURAGED and remember, God has a plan. I’ve heard it said that we must “let go and let God” and I agree with this statement. As I stated, it wasn’t until Peter recognized his inability to save himself that Jesus stepped in. Will you trust GOD this year? Join us this Sunday as we unpack this passage and discuss what true “life saving measures” are needed in our day to day lives.
