Sometimes life has a way of steering you away from the truths that you know in your heart. It may be what life may be dishing up, it may be relationships or maybe you just feel a little disconnected from this thing called life. Our mind has an amazing, yet very frustrating ability to deceive us of the truth that God is love and his plans and purposes are good.
Rediscovering the ocean
Recently I broke a 42 day fast of surfing. I could say I was super spiritual, but that would be a lie. In fact I had become so disillusioned with the status of life that I had let go of one of the very things that inspire life for me.
I realised the other day while floating and looking up to the heavens while being soaked in salty goodness that the only reason I hadn't entered the water for the past 42 days was because I had become angry. I can tell you approaching life angry and frustrated is not the way to approach life. Everything seemed like a mountain and one that cannot be ascended.
As I was floating another more positive thought entered my mind and heart and that was His. This thought was that God's love is like the ocean. What followed were the words "Thank you Jesus" being echoed across the water as I released a massive amount of tension in one moment from my very lips.
Truths about His character
It got me thinking about why His love is like the ocean and the many parallels that can be drawn about God and his character. At the time I shared this moment with a really great brother in Christ and as we conversed so many truths came out of my mouth about His amazing and incredible love.
One of those main truths highlighted in this conversation was the all-consuming refreshing and renewal that comes from being an ocean dweller. As the salt water seeped into my pores I felt renewed and refreshed. I felt the anger that was once there being literally washed away by every wave.
In that moment in time I realised that the remedy to my mind and state of confusion was to float and look up and focus on Him. I didn't need to look at the waves that came crashing in because I knew He has given me the ability to float with lightness through the storms and the waves of life.
It is in this place that you can rise up above the turmoil and ride the storms of life. Given waves are formed by storms it is super fitting for me as I paddle into a wave I rise to my feet and then harness the power of the wave below my feet, then paint beautiful new lines and directions working my way along what this wave has to offer. When we approach life the same way it's amazing what we are capable of and especially with a God of the impossible.
A Scripture of love
When you feel a little pressed in life, remember His Love is everything and all we need. In Ephesians there is this simple, but profound verse that summarises the enormity of our amazing Father's love.
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 17-20)
Justin Monaghan is currently launching as a professional prophetic artist under the label JR Faith Creations. He is married to Liana and lives at the beautiful beach of Port Willunga. Justin is also heavily involved in his local surfing community of South Australia as a surf coach, a judge of surf contests and a member of Christian Surfers
Check out JR Faith Creations to see some of his art at www.jrfaithcreations.com
Justin Monaghan's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/justin-monaghan.html
