My freshman year of college, I had the privilege of taking surf lessons off the coast in Orange County California.  I had always admired surfers, but I can honestly say I admire them much more now!  Surfing takes incredible stamina, arm strength, and balance… just to name a few of the things I discovered that I lacked- but desperately needed to be successful on the tides!  My instructor tried to teach me how to read the waves.  Somehow under all that blue water she could see one coming, and she would shove me off to race the tide and meet it at it’s peak.  I was all on my own at that point, letting the water control my board soaring me forward as I stumbled onto my feet and immediately crashed into the water.

Halfway through my excursion I crashed terribly.  My foot was tied to the board, but outside of that I had no idea which way was up or down.  When I finally broke out of the surface and gasped for air, I saw a large wave inches from my face.  The wave swept over me throwing me into a tumult all over again.  Once I twirled back to the top another wave crashed ontop of me before I could get another breath in.  Between the constant flow of waves and a flood of anxiety, I didn’t have enough air to hold on. It was terrifying!  Thankfully the rush of waves pushed me further and further towards the shore, where I gasped for air and settled down angrily.  I needed a break from the water, it had made me mad.

The desperation I felt in the water, I have also felt in life.  Because of this broken world, no one is exempt from hardships and pain.  In fact, in my Christian walk I have come to realize we are even more of a target!  The devil rules the world and prowls like a roaring lion.  And who do you think he wants to attack most?  Those who are attacking him!  Everyone listed in God’s book of life, every Bible believing Christian, every prayer packed person, every evangelist, every loving soul is a threat to the devil’s rule on earth and the supply of people for his reign.

Don’t get overwhelmed by the crashing waves of life.  Don’t let the anxiety add to your struggle for breath.  There are definitely times when life is relentless, drowning us one wave at a time.  However, God is still in control and He will not allow the devil to touch us or tempt us beyond what we can handle.  These struggles build us up, make us stronger, and allow us to connect to others through these pains. All the while, God took what the devil meant for evil and used it for good… slowly pushing us back towards Him on the shore.

-Emilie

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  – Jeremiah 29:11

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:20