Breaking Point

Whenever I went to the beach, the water seemed to call from me no matter how far the distance was from the sand to the water. It beckoned me.

As I stood between the soft, warm sand and the firmness of the sand that was being pulled back into the beckoning cool waters, all I saw were wave after pounding wave. At first the waves didn't look so big, just a little loud at times but still manageable.

I had my boogie board in hand and approached the refreshing feel of the cool water on my feet slowly enticing me in further and further. I knew that if only I could get to the point where the waves were beginning to break, I would have the best ride possible.

Yet what lie before me was the challenge. The pounding of the waves.



I knew if I timed it just right, and ran with all my might, I could make it out to the break point and not get pummeled.



So I waited, standing on the shore, and counting how many waves and when they would stop for a brief moment before cycling again. Once I was confident, I ran.

I jumped over the first couple of waves and kept my focus on the horizon, to the goal I was attempting to reach. In the process, I found that between sets, the water was growing deeper.

Those shallow sandbars have given way to deeper water. In between the sandbars were trenches I couldn't see from the shore line. Yet as I ventured further out, I found a sand bar and shallow water again.

Yet I was further out from shore and the waves were stronger and much larger, with no real water below, there wasn't a way out, so I either had to turn back, get pounded or moved forward.

I chose to move forward. Yet this wave was too big and I got caught in the cycle of the waves. Each time I got turned around inside like a giant washing machine and finally managed to make my way to the top, I gasped air long enough for the next wave to beat me back to the shore line.



Coughing and splayed out on the sandy shore, I wiped my sandy face and wondered what happened. I was back on the shore, safe and sound but so far from my goal.

After a number of attempts I was able to gauge the whereabouts of the sand bars and trenches along with the timing of the waves to finally manage to get out where I was beyond the waves breaking.

What I found there was peace. There was only a faint whisper of the waves breaking towards the shore behind me, but hear I experienced the lapping of the water around my board, and the rocking motion of the waves as they began their journey to the beach.

It was the most amazing and peaceful time. I could smile and wave at others who had survived right along with me as if we faced that journey together. I could see the sailboats on their way along the horizon line and all was right in the world. Until....

I looked down.

Below was dark, inkiness and a bottomless ocean. My mind now began to play tricks on me. Maybe too many Jaws movies as a child. Terror was now the only focus in my mind and all I wanted was to get back as quickly as possible.



After some serious paddling, I manage to catch a wave and make it back to shore. There was I knew my surroundings better I felt safe.

How often is life like that.

Our shoreline is where we stand today, comfortable and safe where we are.

The waves are the pounding and pummeling we must experience when facing whatever life hands us, it will either kill us or make us stronger. Yet in order to find peace, we must move forward unafraid of the fears life would have us believe exists.

The dark waters are fears that only exist in our mind, yet when we take our eyes off the horizon we immediately fall victim to those fears.

See an analogy coming?

God is like that peaceful place we all hope to get to one day. Yet too often, like Peter we look down. We face fear immediately and we grow afraid and turn back.

We are afraid at times to even venture out and experience that peace that exists if only we would stop out in faith and go.

Sometimes we are tossed and turned by our daily circumstances, trials of life, job loss, loss of a loved one, loss of our personal possessions, facing addictions, whatever the enemy would have us beaten down by. Our question remains. What will we do?

Run away or keep trying with our eyes focused on Him to triumph and experience a peace that surpasses all understanding?

Even though the waves of life may beat you down, remember God doesn't put you through the trials you can't win. In my life right now, God must think we are pretty strong, because even though we are battling our own waves, we know what lies beyond the breaking point. We are keeping our eyes on the horizon!


"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." ~ Philippians 4:11