During my husband’s military tenure, we often set eyes on the ocean and wiggled toes in the sand. Our life embraced coastal living with sea and shore for many years. However, we didn’t love living near the water.
“Give us a cabin in the mountain,” we championed. Over time, however, we warmed to the beach. We came to love it, and I grew to sense God’s presence at the shore in beautiful ways. I’m convinced something special exists at the beach – that God Himself meets us there.
Maybe it’s the breeze evidenced as it flows through a head of hair, championing God Himself – invisible, yet visible through His works. Or, perhaps it’s the rolling ocean, rushing forward to greet visitors, only to retreat as if coaxing our entry. Faith swims in those waters.
Several verses alluding to beach elements reside in the Bible as well. They point to our Father and His goodness. Below are nine of those verses and their accompanying attributes. Take them with you whether you head to the beach or simply dream of sifting sand this summer.
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1. Ours is a Great God
"For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of Armies. Malachi 1:11 WEB
There’s nothing like a beautiful rising sun to remind of us of how great our God is. Why not take a moment and praise His name as the sun rises or sets this week?
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2. His Wisdom Made Many Works
Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all.
"The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals." Psa 104:24-25 WEB
Soak it in – the vastness of the ocean. Whether in person or in the mind’s eye, consider His wisdom in creating such a mass of water. Can you imagine attempting the feat?!
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3. Heaven Awaits
"But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18 WEB
Go ahead – enjoy that beautiful sun-up! It’s well worth the early wake-up. While soaking in the sun’s first rays, keep heaven close. As Christians, those seeking to walk in His righteous ways, there’s a perfect day coming - heaven. Hallelujah!
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4. Jesus isn’t Whimpy
"The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Matthew 8:27 WEB
Circumstances may come barreling at us, but we have a Savior brimming with power. He is quite capable of calming the storms of life. Allow the ocean waves to be a faith-filled reminder.
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5. Go Ahead, Step Out in Faith
"Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days." Ecc 11:1 WEB
Have you ever cast your bread upon the waters? Have you stepped out in faith, following the Lord when the road ahead seemed uncertain? Consider letting the waters at the seashore remind you of faith.
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6. The Magnificence of His Work
"'Don’t you fear me?’ says Yahweh ‘Won’t you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can’t pass it? Though its waves toss themselves, yet they can’t prevail. Though they roar, they still can’t pass over it.’" Jer. 5:22 WEB
At high tide, waves chase closer to shore than at low tide. An invisible line exists, stopping their roll onto land. It’s as if those rushing and receding waters are on display creating a line between sea and land, championing the magnificence of our Creator’s work.
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7. Consider Solomon’s Wisdom and Understanding
"God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore." 1 Kings 4:29 WEB
Go ahead. Try counting the army of sand granules on the seashore. Or, consider how each is formed. Their vast number and formation champion the wisdom and understanding of our great God.
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8. Grow in Faith
"He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;... that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error..." Eph. 4:11,14 WEB
Strong waves and wind can drive a person in ways they never thought possible. Crafty spiritual teaching can as well. The Lord gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to help us grow spiritually – so those winds and waves of error have less power to toss us. Allow the wind to remind you to grab a podcast, book, or article for continued growth while at the beach.
9. Obedience
“…[T]hat I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:17-18 WEB
This one, like the “verse” in #8, is a combination of two verses. Its underlying current? Obedience - a foundation in our faith. While standing on the beach at night or even while staring out our bedroom window, consider Abraham and his obedience. Intertwine the possibilities of faith in God with our own faith.
Enjoy the beach this summer as you soak in His magnificence. He is worthy.
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Kristi Woods is a writer and speaker passionate about seeing women walk deeper with God. She clicks her words of encouragement at http://www.KristiWoods.net regularly and is published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams and Premonitions as well as on Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today and on various blogs. Kristi, her retired-from-the-military husband, and their three children survived a nomadic, military lifestyle and have now set roots in Oklahoma. Connect with Kristi here: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Originally published Monday, 26 June 2017.
