Sometimes you might just find yourself in a situation beyond your control. You might feel trapped, or you may wonder what is my next step? Cause I sure can’t see it Lord!
What a frustrating time when you’re waiting and confused.
This morning as I showered I prayed. I felt myself being influenced by anxiety and uncertainty. I realized that despite all the many good things about my life I was focusing on the bothersome areas where I’m often discontent. I felt disheartened, burdened, and down, down, down. I felt stuck.
At that moment my mind was filled with visions of the ocean. The beach is my absolute favorite place, and it felt comforting to picture such a lovely scene in the midst of my mental turmoil.
“Turn around.” God whispered to me.
I stood at the ocean’s edge, and as I turned I was confronted with a vast expanse of beach. I could see my footprints along the water’s edge. They trailed off into the distance as far as my eyes could see.
Then He quietly asked, “Do you see? Do you see how far you’ve come?”
Retrospect is an amazing vantage point, and it seems that only when I have progressed a great distance am I able to turn around and see that yes, I have come a long way. God has carried me a great distance, and somehow changed me in the process.
I looked down somewhat ashamed as I began to understand what my God was saying to me. With my eyes downcast I absently kicked the sand.
“Look at the sand.” He whispered gently. “See how white, how pure and polished? It’s beautiful.”
I understood. I knew the sand I raked between my toes didn’t start out so bright and brilliant. It was once dull and dirty rock. Years upon years of beating waves had broken it into tiny pieces, polished it, and given it that lovely hue I now observed.
I smiled then. I couldn’t help myself. Despite the crashing waves of circumstances before me I knew God was refining me also. I knew He was making me better, more brilliant, more resilient.
I looked back along the expanse of oceanfront once again. Look how far I’ve come.
I turned back around, and I began to walk forward once again. I knew that as long as I walked forward in His will that He would take me the distance. I wouldn’t walk alone, and I would be surprised how far I could go. As long as I was where He wanted me I knew I could keep walking.