Christian Living

---

A DAY AT THE BEACH


My family and I recently returned from a vacation in Florida. We spent about a week, along with my wife’s parents and our nephew with a certain mouse in his world. In the middle of our week there we decided to spend a day at the beach, so we loaded everyone up in a rented minivan and headed for the coast. We spent some time walking on the beach, collecting shells, and wading in the water. After a while, however, our kids decided that wading wasn’t enough; they wanted to venture out where the waves were. I was more than a little reluctant to let them go out that far, for what seemed to me obvious reasons. I mean, in addition to the waves there’s the current and the undertow, and it’s so much safer staying closer to shore. Not to mention the fact that they wanted me to go with them, and that just wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t really prepared for it in my shorts and t-shirt (no, I didn’t wear my trunks to the beach). My wife, however, is a bit more adventurous than I am. She grabbed the kids by the hand and out they went. She didn’t even seem to mind that she wasn’t any more dressed for the middle of the ocean than I was. So, I stood there on the shore as the three of them waded out, and out, and out. I’m pretty sure my wife heard me the three times I yelled at her that they had gone far enough and decided to ignore my calling. Finally, they seemed to find a spot that suited them as they stood and waited for the waves to crash into them. I would see one of them get knocked down by a wave, and just wait until they stood back up again. It made me nervous seeing them way out there, instead of safe on the shore with me. Then, they would turn towards me and the ocean breeze would carry their laughter back to my ears. Finally, deciding it was time to go, they made their way back to the beach, their legs churning the water as they came, wide smiles on their faces.

As I think about it now, it strikes me that the Christian life is so similar to that day at the beach. We can choose to allow Christ to take us by the hand and lead us out to the deeper water of our faith, or we can choose to stand on the shore, refusing to give up the comfort and safety it offers. And yet, although the shore might offer safety, it does not offer the joy that comes from venturing out with Him. Just as I could not experience the fun and laughter my wife and kids experienced out in the waves, I am convinced we cannot experience the pure joy God would bring to us if we are unwilling to leave the shore behind. Remember Peter? When he saw Jesus walking on the water he said “Lord, if it’s really you bid me come to you.” When Jesus bid him come, Peter got out of the boat and went to Him. He left the comfort of the boat, got out where the waves were and an amazing thing happened: Peter walked on water! Can you imagine what that must have felt like? Sure, Peter began to sink in the waves and Jesus had to reach down and save him, but at least he had the faith to get out of the boat and go. Just think of the experience he would have missed had he not been willing to go out where Jesus was, out in the deep water. And, when Peter began to sink it wasn’t because of the waves, it was because he took his eyes off of the Lord.

Do you know what really frustrates me? While Peter’s out walking on water, I’m still sitting in the boat. While Jesus beckons me from the waves, I’m still standing on the shore. There have been a few times in my life that I have moved when I’ve felt the Lord calling me, but there have also been far to many times that I haven’t. Why? Why do I allow my fear to stop me from doing what the Lord asks me to do, and in turn miss out on the blessings He wants to give me? It’s because “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” That’s not an excuse; it’s the reality we all must face. It’s not the storms of life that get us, it’s not the crashing waves the world throws at us that cause us problems, it’s the sometimes lack of faith we might have in the God who can handle anything. Whenever we find ourselves in what seems like a hopeless situation, we need to remember that, just as Peter was not alone on that sea, neither are we alone in our problems. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake. He will be with us through it all and He will not only help us through whatever life throws at us, He will reach down, pick us up and carry us if need be. Remember that the next time He asks you to do something you might be a little frightened of. Remember that the next time He asks you to leave the comfort of your own personal beach, whatever it might be, and trust Him. The question is not whether He is calling us out into the deep water of our faith, the question is do we trust Him enough to leave the shore and go. It is only by going that we can experience the true joy of a life lived for Him.


“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
---- Jeremiah 29:11

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE