“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” Charles Spurgeon
If you’ve ever been in the ocean, you know what it means to be tossed by the waves. Small waves barely move you, but when a big, expected wave rolls in, you go under. You taste the salty water. You flail your arms and legs to find your footing. When you finally are back on your feet, your awareness is heightened. You watch the waves determined to not let them take you down again.
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon. Life is full of unexpected, giant waves, but those waves throw us into the Rock of Ages. When crisis and pain and turmoil hit, we run straight into the arms of Jesus crying desperately for help. What better place to be?! He comforts. He brings peace. He fights for us. He gives us the tools needed to make it through. Then He cheers us on as we run forward with new determination. So we learn to “kiss the wave.” We accept the circumstances knowing we experienced God in a new way.
This year it has felt like the waves keep crashing around us. There have been unreal amounts of pain and suffering in the lives of our staff, family, and friends. What do you do when you’re watching everyone else struggle? There’s only so much you can do before you’re left watching and wishing you could make it all go away. But what I have learned during this time is that it’s part of their story. God doesn’t allow these things to happen in vain. From the pain comes growth. We treat life more preciously. We value the moments. We learn to not blame God, but cling to Him all the more.
We’ve been in ministry for 10 years. Many seasons brought change and new projects, but the heart of our ministry has always been to build real relationships with people. This year, the ministry has continued to function as it always has, but the change has come from within. We’ve learned to walk with people during the hard times. We’ve seen the power of prayer. We have experienced miracles. God is with you in the waves.