As soon as I could drive a car or was able to ride my bike 20 miles roundtrip, I would be at the beach. Most days when I was experiencing intense emotions, not knowing how to work through them, I would end up at the coastline. I utilized all five of my senses while on the shore – listening to the rolling waves and rustling winds, smelling the ocean air, touching the shimmering sand, tasting the salt mist coming from the seas, and watching all of the beauty on display before my eyes. The beach was a kind of calming balm for me.
I didn’t realize that in that season of my life, I was worshipping the creation and not The Creator. Because after all, you don’t know you’re dead as an unbeliever until you are alive in Christ.
Since then, I have learned that Jesus is the only calming balm for my soul as He has shown me over and over again through His loving care.
The Lord in His grace allowed me to marry a kind, loving man who just so happens to surf. So we have spent a good majority of our 26 years together at the beach. Once the Lord starting blessing us with our children, they too have been able to enjoy the splendor of the coast.
Today is another day at the beach, but my perspective is different than those earlier days when I wasn’t surrendered to Christ.
As I sit and watch two of my teenage girls bodysurf in the water, I’m reminded of their younger days when these two precious souls were so carefree – teaching them to not put sand into their mouth or watching their father teach them to surf – all the memories swirling in my head are ever so sweet.
But what is most striking today is what I am recalling as I sit here engaging all five of my senses once again. I’m recalling all that the Lord has done in my life. From being at the beach years ago, not knowing Jesus as my Savior yet, to sitting here now – not only watching two of my precious daughters wade in the ocean, but meditating on God’s Word as I prepare for two counseling appointments tomorrow evening (Job 12:13). I have the blessing and privilege to help point yet more souls to Jesus as the only calming balm (1 Peter 5:7). After all, even the wind and the waves obey Him as well as all things were created through and for Jesus (Matthew 8:27 and Colossians 1:16).
Oh, and one of these sweet teens that I’m watching in the water at this moment…
I’m recalling how God saved my soul two months before He gifted our family with her life in my womb. This particular child has always been so sensitive to my emotions. In her younger years, she would just look at me and say, Mommy, Jesus loves you – at just the right time – when I was tempted to doubt God’s love or even when I had crossed over into sin and was doubting God’s love.
Today, she continues to remind me of God’s loving care as she looks to the shore eagerly waving to me.
I still experience the ebb and flow of intense emotions. But nowadays the sea is not my calming balm – Jesus Christ is – and for him and to Him I am grateful. And He allows me the gift to teach others about His loving care.
Thank you God for your loving care and turning all of my sin around for your glory. You alone deserve to be worshipped, not the gifts you give. Thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you for the gift of my husband. Thank you for the gift of our children. Thank you for the gift of my senses. Thank you for the gift to counsel women through your Word. Thank you that no matter the emotional experience I am going through, you alone are my calming balm now and for all eternity. In Jesus name, amen.