“Life is waves. Grief comes in waves. Suffering comes in waves. Losses come in waves. There is no controlling life’s storms; there is only learning to live with waves. . . . The real work of being human is trusting the way is the waves, right through the valleys and crests. Across the waves, even now, right now, the Spirit hovers.- Ann Voskamp
“Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.”- Psalm 89:8-9 (NIV)
In Chapter 10 (“The Fear of Being Found”) of WayMaker, Ann Voskamp stresses that the WayMaker makes His way to meet us in the dirt – when we’re at our lowest. There He kisses us to life with His breath. Because at that point we don’t even know how to breathe. Above all, Ann underscores, when you hear the divine whisper of who you can become, nothing in your past possesses the power to earmark you.
Therefore, Ann counsels, you need to examine your life. For an unexamined life ends up unfulfilling. Thus, lack of soul examination means you fail your only life. However, when you unpack why you feel fear, you send the devil packing.
Hence, the way through involves letting the WayMaker hold you close as He leads the way. If you trust Jesus, Love Himself, holding you, trust is easy. Yet, Ann also sees a paradox – of a soul wanting to be seen and yada-known, yet wanting no one to truly see and know our past and the way we are. So, Ann exhorts:
“Why be afraid of waves that are making the way through the sea that you can’t see? You may only see waves, but that doesn’t mean waves won’t be your actual way through the sea to see more of God. Exhale into trust.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses buoy you in learning to live with waves? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The spiritual discipline of SACRED”
