I took a walk down the deserted beach where we are celebrating our 50th anniversary.
The white foaming waves crash into shore with a deafening roar. And just as quickly they receded leaving hundreds of bubbly water drops that sparkled like diamonds on a canvas of sand. Roll after roll the waves marched in like soldiers on parade captivating me in wonder as the water swirled around my feet.
I turned to see just how far I had come and was struck with the realization that only a few of my footprints remained. I continued to watch as the waves erased each and every imprint of my steps until all that remained was a pallet of smooth sand washed fresh by the pounding of the surf.
Ahhhh, I thought, how like life. These past 2 years have brought multiple imprints of trials. The footprint of chemo, the footprint of weeks of radiation, the footprint of surgery and all the life changing after effects—-and then in a moment comes the promise of the One who walks before me and beside me, who encourages me with the truth that one day all our sorrows and heartache will be erased, just like the fading footprints in the sand.
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
On what a wonderful promise!
I returned to our room later that afternoon and I read Psalm 29–
Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty,
give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth:
the LORD is upon many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf;
Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness;
the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
The LORD sitteth upon the flood;
yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
I was struck with verses 3,4 where it says :
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters:the God of glory thundereth:the LORD is upon many waters.The voice of the LORD is powerful;the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
I reread the phrase …the God of glory thundereth as I listened to the sound of the waves pounding from my balcony.
Scholars tell us that David wrote this Psalm as he was in the middle of a storm. David gave glory as he was experiencing trouble all around him because his God is celebrated as the creator and controller of the storms. He recognized God’s voice in the storm—and that’s exactly what I need to do when storms surround me. We have divine strength and all the earth is under his majestic control. And that gives me hope!
I read that scientists have calculated that a typical Thunderstorm releases around 10,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. That’s the equivalent of a 20 kiloton nuclear warhead. And our God does that and more by his thundering voice! In the middle of my storm I can trust the one who has power over each and every storm.
As I was sharing this thought with Rene he reminded me of Psalm 77:19–
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters,and thy footsteps are not known.
This verse brought me full circle with the truth that as my footsteps were disappearing, my almighty God was appearing right there in my storm…even when we couldn’t see His steps.
He is wonderfully in control of every storm in our lives and that gives me not only hope it gives me peace!
One day we will turn around and all the heartaches of life will be eternally gone —they will be erased by the Master’s hand. Oh, and just on a side note… Rene has preached 17 times since January 21. Psalm 28:7 says: The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Our hearts are rejoicing with what God is doing and yes we are praising Him!!! For this we have Jesus