God's Powerful Touch

Last month we took a vacation to the to the east coast of South Carolina and Georgia. I wanted to experience the ocean. We had seen the ocean on trips to Boston and points north; the Gulf from west Florida and Galveston; San Diego, San Francisco, and along the west coast in California and Oregon. I had touched my toes in the water a few times but never taken a full body dip.

The first night we took a long walk along the beach, listening to the repetitive rush of the water, feeling the sand between our toes, watching the frothy waves curl up and then diminish and fall away as they teased the shoreline. The next day we dressed for the water. We strolled into the water up to our knees, watching others run into the waves, jump over the caps and stand in the depths. It took one more time for me to be brave enough to enter the ocean's expanse.

I wanted to experience the waves and feel God's power. I was not disappointed. Hand in hand we advanced past the foamy waves, into the apparent stillness of the water that stretched to the infinity of the horizon. Suddenly a wall of water lurched up and crashed onto our heads and shoulders. Besides the element of complete surprise, we instantly shared the taste of salt water on our lips as we wiped the water from our smiling faces.

"You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me;" (Jonah 2:3 NIV).

It was amazing. Out of the calm came such power and force that we were knocked off our feet and swept toward the beach. We learned to brace ourselves for the next wave, but even so, we were no match for the forceful surge of the wall of water that smashed into us. We would barely recover before another crest appeared, over and over and over; a marvelous wonder of God's creation.

"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me," (Psalm 42:7 NIV).

Father God, all around us Your creation touches us: the pounding waves, the gentle breeze, the changing leaves, the bountiful harvest...You are in them all. Thank you for giving us these beautiful hints of Who You Are. We are so blessed. We offer You, O Holy One, our honor and praise, for You Alone are our God. Amen.