Unpredictable Waters!

Now that we live along the Jersey Shore, Kim and I can pop over to a boardwalk or beach just about anytime we want without too much hassle or too long a drive. We think it’s great!  All year long we are able to walk the boardwalks or even go out on the sand.  And now with summer upon us, we look forward to afternoons spent in the water, swimming in the ocean and riding the waves!

In fact, just last Saturday Kim, Nathaniel, and I went down to Ocean Grove, one of our local Shore towns.  I had heard that the water had become relatively warm just a few days before (which probably meant 68-70 degrees for this time of year). To our surprise, however, the night before the water temperature had dropped significantly. A different current must have come in bringing the water temperature down to 60 degrees. Although Nathaniel got into the water, that was a bit too cold for me.  When I needed to cool down, I went to the shower up on the boardwalk. 

At Ocean Grove in September 2016!

One thing we know about going to the beach is that the water can be quite different and even unpredictable from day to day. Unlike a pool or even a lake, the waters of the ocean can quickly change. Different tides cause the water to be warm one day and cold the next. One day the water is calm and easy to swim in (which is not great for the surfers); on the next day, the water might be rough and the red flags are out (and the surfers are rejoicing!). One day the water is clear and the next it can be filled with seaweed or jellyfish or who knows what!  Yes, the ocean waters are unpredictable waters!

That’s how it was for Jesus and his disciples as they went out into their boat one night to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  When they got into the boat, the waters must have been calm. But in the middle of the night a storm came upon them and the waters threatened to sink the boat and drown them.  As the disciples cried out in fear, Jesus stood up and “…rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”  (Mark 4:39 – NIV) 

That’s very much the way life is for us.  Even while we are enjoying times of smooth sailing and calm waters, we know in the back of our minds that just one turn of events can roughen the waters of our lives.  One event can create the kind of turbulence that threatens to pull us under and even drown us.  The waters of our life can be quite unpredictable!  Thankfully, we have a Savior who is Master over all of the waters of our lives. The best we can do is to trust him with our lives, believing that he is able to step into our lives and speak his peace into every situation we may face. 

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God

(Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis, Joseph C. Liggins)

Have a great day! And, get to the beach—i.e. the Jersey Shore!

Pastor Tim Harris