I spent some time down at the shore this summer. As a kid, we would spend every summer down in Ocean City, NJ. I grew up with a single mom who had a beautician shop connected to our tiny apartment over my grandparents’ house. We didn’t have much money, so I learned to work for everything I had. Mom tells the story of one Christmas she was able to buy me a saddle for my little pony I had worked for. The first words out of my mouth when I saw it under the tree were, “Do I have to pay for it?”.
In order for us to go down to the shore, I was allowed to have a little brown bank out in her beauty shop that her customers would put tips in all year. When the bank got full, I knew how much extra spending money we would have for the shore. It was exciting to count it out. Then, the best part would come. I would eagerly anticipate what I would do once I got down on the boardwalk. I had to get my raft, the heavy blue canvas one with the bright yellow ends. You may know the one! Then onto the 5 and dime to get my ever so popular shark bracelet. The bright white one that was so cool to wear. I was now ready to take on the waves.
As our family would take the walk to the beach from Plymouth Place, between 7th and 8th Street, I would be so excited to tackle the challenging waves. The bigger the better. Oh, I loved it. I honestly cannot remember any instruction of what I could or couldn’t do out there, except swim in front of the lifeguards. My snazzy raft and I, paddling out to the deep where the waves were crashing in. I would sit there on the top my raft feeling good. I was probably 10 or 11 years old, thinking I was one of those surfers. My board was just softer and safer than theirs! LOL
As I would look out onto the horizon; I would spot the waves rolling in, getting bigger and bigger. The bigger they were, the farther I could ride it in was the idea. Picture it, the white caps rolling in, my heart pounding faster and faster with excitement, and then boom, I hit the top of the wave and start sailing into shore. But then bam, I go head over heals onto the ocean floor, floundering and rolling over and over. Scrapes and little bruises would result, but a fun story would emerge. Battle scars! ‘Time to hit the waves again’, I would say! I was determined to learn how to stay on that raft and surf the waves, having a blast rather than hitting the ocean floor, which was hard, rocky, painful and unattractive.
I never thought that those raft experiences as a child would teach me a basic truth about life. It goes something like this: before I got really serious about following Jesus Christ, I repeatedly hit the hard, rocky, painful and unattractive floor of life. I would stay down there for days, weeks, months and even years. Yes, I went to church. Yes, I professed to be a Christian. But I was not seriously following Jesus into every area of life. Following Jesus meant that I had to ask Him about everything. How I should use my finances, where He wanted me to live, what car to buy, what career path to take, what ministries to serve in. You get the idea. It meant I couldn’t call the shots for my life anymore. I would be handing my life over to Him. I actually thought I had done that when I got saved, but with more inspection, I realized I hadn’t. I was still holding on and not surrendering my whole life to Him. I had to make a decision. Am I going to follow what the Bible says or am I going to continue to pick and choose what I consider comfortable and on the rest I would use my veto power? As long as I used my veto power I would always hit the ocean floor. Not because God wanted that. It was simply a consequence of my choices. When I finally got serious about following Jesus, I began a new healing journey.
During that journey I came to understand that I could learn to surf life’s waves and not get so beat up by life’s twists, turns, ups and downs. Let me explain.
The Bible says in John 16:3 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
It also says this:
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Isn’t that amazing!! It’s like riding on the top of that white cap wave, riding it in when you know full well that the ocean floor is right below you, with the capability to rough you up for a long time.
I am not saying that in all of life’s circumstances you will be able to ride the wave in. There are things that knock me down, so many times and I roll a bit. But I have to grab those scriptures, choose to believe what they say and know what they mean- not just read them and hope something will happen. I have to intentionally choose to believe what they are saying. It is then, and only then, that I am able to climb back up on the top of my life raft, which is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and His promises for me. That is how I continue to surf life’s waves and spend smaller amounts of time on the ocean floor.
Last weekend I was down on the beach in Ocean City watching a whole group of surfers. They were really great. When they wiped out, it was quite something, but they loved it. It was evident on their faces. Joy. That’s what I saw. That’s what I want. To continue to learn how to experience that joy the Bible promises, as we are able to grasp.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Amen
Blessings Friends,
Loi