Mountains, or Ocean?

When people ask "mountains or ocean?" I always pick ocean. It's not that the mountains aren't beautiful and amazing in their own right; they absolutely are. I had the privilege of growing up watching them change colors for 11 years, and I will always have a love for them. However, I've had a special draw to the sea for as long as I can remember. Today, I found out why.

I have been praying for God to reveal himself to me. Who are you? Who am I in you? Everyday He shows me a little bit more in the most beautiful and playful ways imaginable.

Today, while floating in the crystal clear water I started praying. I thanked God for such an amazing, vast, beautiful, magnificent, mysterious, mighty body of water. I have so much peace and joy when I'm at the ocean and I just gave him glory like He deserved; but then it hit me.

God is the the ocean.

He is beautiful- Revelation 1:12-15

He is mighty- 1Peter 5:6

He is vast- Isaiah 40:28

He is magnificent- Psalm 145:3-5

He is mysterious- John 13:7

Like water is in, and throughout our body, He lives in us. Like water, He is free flowing. And the best part; He's just there. He is always available, always drawing us closer like the rolling waves of the ocean. The salt water can heal our wounds and make us beautiful again just as God can. The ocean can give us joy and peace just like God does. 

God is the ocean.

Today it clicked. Thats why I love the ocean so much. It's a representation of my best friend in the whole universe. 

Duh.

But as I continued praying I started to wonder, "sometimes the seas get rough." This confused me. We don't have a "rough" God. He is not a punisher or a bully. So, how could I compare a rough sea to a good good God? 

Then He spoke.

He showed me that I am a buoy in the choppy water. 

God is still the ocean and He is always good but sometimes the devil brings storm clouds that stir up our sea and God allows it to happen.

It is ferocious. It will toss you up and take you down. You may go out of control sometimes. You may not be able to handle it and sometimes you may think the rope connecting you to the ocean floor will break.

As a buoy it can feel very lonely; out there, in open water. It feels like God isn't there. However, He allows rough seas because He wants to test our strength. He wants to help us grow and change our hearts. However, it's important to understand that He will never really leaves us. If you hold on and stay faithful you will always be held in your foundation; you will always be connected to the ocean floor; just like a buoy.

But what about a still ocean?

I'm in a very weird season of life right now. It's been a rough and choppy year. I'd had lots of moments when I felt like I was surfing, and many when I thought I would drown. Lately though, I've just been wading in in the water.

I go day to day just living my life. I have a job, and a few friends, I walk with my mom and dog everyday. I'm not miserable but I'm also not on top of the world.

The water is still.

If you know me you know I have a very hard time with being still. I love doing, and going and being the life of the party. I can't and I won't waste a single second of this blessed life. I refuse. However, I think we forget that being still is also a blessing. 

I've been learning how to hear God. And when I don't, I've learned how to appreciate His presence. Some days I feel like nothing is happening but, because of all the rough seas I know God and I know He has big plans. These still seasons are to test our faithfulness. God wants to bless you. However, He does everything in perfect timing and He wants to know that we are ready for the blessing. He won't give it a second sooner. It can be frustrating, the unknown can be filled with so much anxiety. However, have peace knowing that it's all to protect us; and how lucky are we to have a lifeguard on duty 24/7?

I always hated an unpredictable sea. I hated wondering: would it be rough or still? That is, until today. Today, I learned that being in the ocean, no matter the current, is my favorite place to be. Because, in the ocean is where I come alive. There, I grow. There, I am healed. There, I am taught lessons and given peace. There, I am met by the creator. 

Be a booey. Be strong against the choppy waves and be faithful in still waters. Regardless of what sea you may be facing you will come out better and more blessed than ever before.

So, mountains or ocean?

You decide.















 "It is [S]well with my soul"