One
of the highlights of August was our annual trip to Seaside Oregon with
Chad’s extended family. This year the weather cooperated and was warm
enough for the girls and I to play in the waves. We weren’t in there for
long before I noticed how differently Zoe and Abby played in the waves.
Abby
preferred to stay in the shallower waters where she was more mobile. As
waves got close to her, she turned toward the beach, readied herself
like a relay racer and ran. Once the wave had ended, she returned back
to her original spot, unscathed. She never got knocked down.
Zoe’s approach was much different. She didn’t run. She ventured deeper. She stood strong and braced
herself before each unavoidable wave crashed around her. Sometimes she
screamed with the thrill of it all. Other times she would throw her arms
out as if embracing the oncoming wave.
The
girls reminded me of the waves that we face in life—the temptations,
trials and tribulations that inevitably come. Some waves we should RUN
from: temptations that could destroy our relationship with God, our
spouse, or our family. God tells us to flee from temptation (2 Tim 2:22). Like Abby, watch for them while they are still far off and run! Other waves are unavoidable and God tells us to BRACE ourselves (1 Cor 16:13):
trials and tribulations that inevitably come through perhaps no fault
of our own. Like Zoe, stand strong in the Word, face them head on and
brace yourself!
Waves will come in our lives, God wants us to pay attention and be ready to run or to stand.
If
only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been
like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. ~Isaiah 48:18
