The heat of the sun, the cool of the breeze, and the vastness of the sea radiates the power and awe of the One who created it into being. The same One that created me.
Some days the sea is calm. Some days hold hurricanes that pound away at the steady shore. No matter how rough or calm the water. The One who created remains in control of it all.
And a voice beckons.
“Come. Rest. Know my Love. ”
When the storms of life threaten to wash away the ground beneath, it is this call to rest from the One who created, which carries us through.
Like the waves pounding the shore during a hurricane, a diagnosis, fear, or loss threatens to define, shape, and erode away the joy of who we are created to be. We find hope by clinging, white knuckled, determined to ride out the storm with Jesus at the helm.
During trials and hurricane-sized storms of life, His power is present and beautiful. He wraps his arms around us and anchors us to the core of who we were created to be.
“Come. Rest. Know my Love. ”
Amidst our circumstances, the Father calls, “Rest, my child, rest.”
Drowning out the fears, He whispers, “I am your refuge and your strength.”
Washing our doubts away, the Savior, says “Trust me, dear one, even in this I have already won.”
In time the storm passes. The seas become still. The shore remains. Altered and may I say even improved, the shore reflects a redesign which can only be done by the Powerful One. The rough spots are smooth. The shores are peppered with the treasures of shells which can only come after the storm. The beauty resonates as the breeze and peaceful view reminds us of who controls it all.
But even when the hurricane-sized storms are gone, life carries subtle waves. The internal waves of doubt and fear, not brought on by life-shattering news, but by the flesh and sin which threatens our daily identity. So often, the call to rest is forgotten.
Instead days consist of activity and distraction. Attempting to quiet the voices on our own, we forget whose we are and who we were created to be. Listening to the lies within, these hidden storms that no one sees, make life hard. Our soul is thirsty.
Instead of allowing the waves to shape us, white-knuckled, we cling to our flesh, our sinful self, fighting to maintain control. And still the Lord beckons.
“Come. Rest. Know my Love. ”
It should be easier to sit on these days, to take time to be still and know. Yet, so often striving takes the place of rest. Without pause for nourishment, exhaustion and defeat overcomes the flesh.
We hear …“You are exactly who you created yourself to be and it isn’t enough.”
“Give up, give in, and accept defeat.”
While these waves batter away slowly and subtly at our identity as created and beloved, the Father still beckons…
“Come. Rest. Know my Love. ”
Our soul longs to rest.
In the distance, the breeze blows and the treasures beneath the surface begin to outshine the flesh on top. We hear the reminders from the One who created.
“You are loved. You are cherished. You don’t have to be enough, because I AM!”
So today and every day, take the time to slow down, sit on the shore, and know the One who love you enough to lay down His life for you. For there’s beauty in the storm and in the waves of life, we need only take the time to sit with the One who created and become the one he created us to be.
Then one day He’ll call us home and like those gone before us, we will see the Savior’s face and hear Him say…
“Come. Rest. Know my Love. ”
