I grew up on the water. Swimming, fishing, boating…it all makes me feel like I’m at home. I love watching peaceful sunsets over the lake until the stars and moon are smiling back at me, reflected from that dark blue, mysterious surface. What’s even more amazing is the intensity of a lightning storm as waves crash into a lighthouse, tension builds, thunder rolls, and howling winds create a turbulent yet breathtaking atmosphere over an infinite sea of uncertainty.
We aren’t capable of comprehending the pure excitement, true wonder, or paralyzing fear that a storm like this presents until a whirlwind of events suddenly throws us into this perilous environment.
It’s the storm that changes the trajectory of life as we know it. Yet with a simple pivot, we can venture into the depths of God’s love and explore uncharted waters of destiny. Deep calls unto deep as this love becomes the force that compels us to step into the unknown…even when it means braving a storm that many would turn away from.
Psalm 107:23-24 says, “Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; they see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.” This is an invitation to leave our comfortable shores and face challenges that are only found in the depths of the sea. Those who take on these courageous endeavors personally experience the works and wonders of God.
Storms arise out of nowhere in these deep waters. There’s plenty of commotion as opposition, confusion, and resistance begin to emerge…and impossibility presents itself as reality. We find ourselves in situations that call us to make vital decisions…we either stay the course, abandon ship, or give up without hopes of anyone coming to rescue us.
THIS is where miracles can occur if we strategically shift our focus and see through the eyes of faith. It’s a beautiful place to be because Jesus will reach out to us when we begin to sink, just like He did for Peter in the Bible story we so often hear. As crashing waves and flashes of lightning strike fear into our surroundings, LOVE was there from the very beginning ready to come to our rescue. Suddenly, what looked treacherous in the natural realm becomes the place of a divine encounter as Heaven intervenes in the midst of turmoil.
Dealings in deep waters are the moments in our lives in which we find out what we’re really made of. We find out what the true motives and intentions of our hearts are. We find out what we really trust in, where we truly put our faith. The temptation to abandon ship doesn’t deter us, yet it drives us to endure as deep continues to call out to deep. Love causes us to persevere even if our voyage gets rerouted. God works His mighty wonders and makes sure that we arrive at our designated destination.
