Last week we just needed away. A family friend graciously offered a place to stay in the panhandle of Florida and we packed up and spent a few days on the Emerald Coast with the pure white sand. This is one of our FAVORITE PLACES. The kids LOVE playing in the water, exploring, building sand castles and sea creatures, taking sunset walks and crab hunting at night. Oh…and the fresh seafood.
A couple of days during our stay, the ocean was a little rough. A tropical storm was brewing. It was a red (not a double)flag, so we had to be cautious while we were out in the water. We trekked out and the waves crashed against us. Sometimes the waves were where we could “hop” over and sometimes they were strong and capped right above us where we had to turn for protection or be plastered in the face with salt water and whatever else was lurking in the ocean.
After being out in the water for a little bit, we glanced up and noticed that the current and waves had taken us pretty far from home base where our tents and chairs were up on the beach.
Sometimes our journey on earth is that way too.
We can go along with our walk thinking we are on the right path, and one day we wake up and realize we are not..
The waves that push us away can be big or they can be small.
It can be struggling with temptation or succumbing to it with sin. It can be discouragement with people or with ourselves.It can be due to poor decisions of others that affect your life and is just painful. It can be feeling lonely or wondering what our purpose really is. It can be a pandemic and the noise around us–especially now.
It isn’t easy here. The journey is arduous. For some, it may be more difficult than others.
The following verse is attached to the bottom of my email at school.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
The waves are going to come—Period. Some will be soft and gentle. Some will take you to your knees and you may fall (I am sure I was a sight to be seen at one particular time this day….)
Be watchful. Stand firm. Be strong.
And everything you do—let it be done in love. A love for God. A love for His people.
It is easy to set our eyes on the immediate and let the wave drown us. But remember–He never fails with His promises. He is a God full of mercy and compassion.
- He is with us and will strengthen us (Isa 41:10)
- He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast and trust in Him. (Isa 26:3)
- We can have peace because He has overcome the world (John 17:33)
- The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
- He will give us rest. (Matthew 11:28-29)
- His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness…(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
- He is accessible 24-7 (Philippians 4:8-9).
- The testing of faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)
- The Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:14)
- He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isa 40:29)
Keep your eyes on the prize. Keep anchored to Him.
We’ll end with these last verses of Ephesians 3. Let them soak in…….
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through the Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And you may have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
Anchored to Him,
Leigh Ann
