Some Go Down To The Sea

Desired Wave Haven

I just returned from a phenomenal women's beach retreat in Cherry Grove & N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The waves were faithfully relentless in performing their job.  In and out, rhythm and force, splash and crash, gleaming and foaming, they were wonderfully inspiring.  God always speaks through His waves. 

Waves of emotions.

We're taught to control our emotions so that we always appear rational, but sometimes we habitually stuff true feelings down into the pit of our hearts so much that our rational appearance becomes idolatry.  Identity based on appearance leads us down the path of p-r-i-d-e and that is a sure-recipe for all levels of spiritual and relational disaster.  I'm not saying to become a raging, emotional volcano or to be immature, but if you are reading this, then you are probably still walking the earth in a flesh and blood body.  Emotions are healthy human responses.  God doesn't deny that His intention is that we be whole, healthy human beings in body, soul and spirit; that includes healthy thoughts and emotions.  How we "frame" our thoughts - what we allow to "flesh-out" and become reality - will be vital factors in our becoming more like Jesus and living that mission out in front of others.  

Proverbs 23:7a  "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..."

Doctors tell us to pay attention to what our body is telling us - what little red flags is it sending up to signal that something needs adjusted or corrected?  Listening to the emotional aspect of our lives is just as important.  Do those same waves drift up to the surface of your heart and mind?  We thought those waves had passed a long time ago.  Do you hear an emotional pain crying out for attention and pleading for a healing balm?  

Is God saying, "Something is not in order, attend to it!"

The Lord spoke a word to me several years ago.  Literally, one word.  The word was "groundswell."  It was a curiosity to me because I had dreamed about being devastated by a huge tidal wave that literally had a menacing personality and was threateningly full of "body language."  It seemed to look at me and chase me down.  Not long after the dream our family faced a dark night season and the menace of that wave hung over us like a fog.  We all had opportunity to soul search and allow our personal groundswell-tidal wave to do its business with our emotions.  Getting to the root, the seat of our hearts, we determined that we would hold on through the storm, but watching the deep heart-dredging was painful.  It was soul surgery that seemed painfully grief filled but so necessary for healing and going forward.  Emotions bubbled up over and over again as the Lord's groundswell waves dealt with the deep "ocean floor" of our hearts, dredging and dealing and delivering.  He reminded us that He had made man's heart bigger than the wide sea and He was Master of the waves on it.  

Psalm 107:23--30  "Some go down to the sea and travel over it in ships to do business in great waters;  These see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.  For He commands and raises up the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.  [Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; their courage melts away because of their plight.  They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits’ end [all their wisdom has come to nothing]. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.

He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.

Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven."

Can you feel the emotional stirring of the waters?  Do you see a great groundswell wave rising over the horizon and targeting your heart?  Does the Spirit of God need to "do business" with your heart?  Do you hear your emotions crying for healing attention...again?

The Lord's final say so in these matters is that He has a desired haven for you.  The groundswell that rises up because of the silent, deep, ever resident stirring can have a beautiful outcome of release from the old hurts; wholeness and emotionally healthy spirituality are your's (and mine.) There is hope in the face of the groundswell waves.