I\u2019ve always been a little bit afraid of the ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it\u2019s the mystery of just what exactly lies below its depths, the incredible power of the waves, its influence over the weather, or all three, I don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And yet, I find myself strangely drawn to it<\/strong>, wanting to be close, but not too close. With every opportunity I get to be at its shore, I find myself just staring out, seemingly at nothing \u2013 the way a newborn baby can lock gaze at something only they can see. Many of the moments I\u2019ve felt closest to Him in my life have been when He has met me there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The spiritual parallels between the ocean and our life with God are endless.<\/strong> Simply the vastness<\/em> of the ocean is a \u201cpunch in the gut\u201d reminder of how insignificant we are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, it\u2019s the waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I really understood the depth of love and grace that God has for me (and you), I\u2019d witness the power of each wave, feel it hit me in the back and knock me down, and about the instant I\u2019d get my legs under me and get a breath, another would crash on me and knock me down again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All the while, rip currents were trying to pull me out to the deeper water, where I couldn\u2019t stand and would surely drown. At that time in my young life of faith, those relentless waves signified the tough things in life<\/strong>, my failures, the sin I still struggled with<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was relentless, never-ending, no break, as if God was judging me and allowing the waves to get stronger until, even though I was off balance, drenched, and gasping for air, I was able to get my legs under me and conquer my own baggage. I never did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, I see Him in the waves differently.\u00a0 Instead of judgement, it’s grace<\/strong>. Wave after wave, crashing over me. As a more mature believer, my failures and the sin I struggle with is still a part of me. In fact, I\u2019m more acutely aware of it than I ever was as a young buck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But now, I see the crashing waves, one after another after another \u2013 with no end \u2013 as the clearest picture of His mercy and grace washing the guilt and shame away completely. His word describes it this way, <\/p>\n\n\n\n