Riding the Waves of Life

I’ll never forget a boogie boarding experience I had in Florida a couple of years ago. It was high tide, stormy seas, and the biggest waves this city girl had ever attempted to ride. The water was so cold it took my breath away. And everywhere I turned I felt seaweed. I was covered in clumps of it. Yuck!

Then all of a sudden – KERBLOOM! A massive wave knocked me off my feet, temporarily taking me under with surprising and shocking force. I stood to my feet just in time for the second KERBLOOM to overtake me. KERBLOOM! KERSPLATT! as the third and fourth waves overpowered me before I could stand up completely. Survival instincts kicked in at this point and all I knew was that I had to get beyond the crashing waves because I’d never survive the non-stop beating. Finally, I made it into the deeper waters beyond the breaking mammoth waves. Whew, calmer waters…at last.

As I caught my breath and floated effortlessly across the ocean swells, the reality that I was in shark infested waters gripped my heart. Piercingly cold water, a seaweed explosion, intense battering waves, and now I’m shark bait. Great, just great. When exactly is this going to get better?

After several missed attempts, I finally caught a huge wave just as it was beginning to crest. I clung to the board as the massive wave overtook me and launched me back to the shore like a thunderous water propelled rocket. What a trip! Exhilarating and exhausting. But the best part was seeing my husband’s face as I rolled off the board. To say he was cracking up is an understatement. He was hilariously delighted. Beaming. He had watched the whole wild ride, and was running over to help me to my feet. Seeing his response melted my heart. I felt his joy and his delight. Yes that was intense, but so unquestionably worth it. I grabbed my husband’s hand, stood up and realized what a mess I was – sopping wet, globs of sand and seaweed stuck to me, but hey, what do you expect after being launched from a water propelled rocket? No, it wasn’t pretty, but it sure was fun.

Our journey through life is a lot like this.

We live in cold waters that are inescapable. Like the seaweed that surrounded me, we live in a sin-infested world where evil is constantly touching us.

And then there are the battering, intense waves that come at us throughout every season in life. They too are inescapable.

What massive waves of life are beating you down, friend?

No matter how high and seemingly insurmountable the waves appear, we’ve got to plunge into the deeper waters of intimacy with Christ in order to keep from drowning. Scripture says that as long as we stay in the shallow end, we are like infants in the faith who are

“tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” Ephesians 4:14.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the deep waters you need to push into in order to gain intimacy with Christ.

Even in the deeper waters, trouble will come and we will be faced with enormous waves that we simply cannot float over. God promises us in Romans 8:37 that “in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” When we ride the waves of life, clinging to the cross of Jesus Christ and His completed work on our behalf, the Cross will propel us safely to the shore, and Jesus will be there to help us to our feet – beaming and hilariously delighted in our victorious ride. And we will feel His intense joy. We will probably be a disheveled mess when we emerge, but by His grace, we will stand to our feet as we grab His hand and we head out into the deep waters to do it all again. Until we’ve reached the end of our earthly tenure and we can ride the waves of this life no more. Then the Cross of Christ will take us on one final ride, propelling us safely to our heavenly home for all eternity. Finally…everything will be better and as it should be!

Until that blessed day, friends, we’ve got deep waters to plunge into and massive waves to overcome to Jesus’ glory.

Are you game, friend? Surf’s up…and Jesus is calling…let’s ride the waves of this life in His name and for His fame…let’s ride!

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers have swept over me.”

Psalm 42:7     

Carole Chaput

http://carolechaput.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/carolechaput

Copyright 2010 Lighthouse Publications. Used by Permission.

Carole Chaput

All you really need to know about me is that I am a real woman with real issues encountering a real Jesus who ushers in real transformation into my heart and life. I'm a wife of twenty-one years to my high school sweetheart; a fulltime Mom to two funny and creative sons; a friend to genuine, deep-souled women; an avid reader and writer; a part time seminary student; a soul beggar who was found, pursued by the Bread of Life. A dreamer, beach bum and lover of God's creation, I can often be found drinking in the beauty of the great outdoors wherever life finds me. It'd be a joy to link arms and unite hearts with you to plunge the depths of Jesus Christ together. The true riches in life are found in Him!

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