There are few things that make you feel smaller than being in the middle of the ocean with nothing in sight but open water and the sky. Both look and feel endless and you’re suddenly reminded just how vast this world is.
This stunning sight was one of my favorite aspects of the cruise my husband and I took between Christmas and New Year’s this year, and that view, along with the sound of the ship cutting through the waves, is the thing I miss the most about that trip. Even beyond the fun and the food, it was that relaxing, tranquil view and sound that I think I loved most.
Last week, I found myself having a bit of a rough day, feeling discouraged and disappointed by a particular situation in my life. It’s a season that has felt unending for years now, and in that moment of weakness, I wondered how on earth I could possibly keep enduring it. Where does this season end, Lord?
Then I was reminded of that ocean view.
Standing on our balcony and looking out at the horizon, it seemed like the entire world was covered with water. But it was only an illusion, because once we traveled far enough, that water gave way to land. No matter how far from shore it seemed we were, come the morning of each port day of our trip, there was suddenly lush green land where there was once nothing but blue water. The mind-boggling depths of the open sea became crystal-clear shallows and sand.
It always amazes me how God can use anything, including creation itself, to remind us of His promises and truth.
Nothing in this world is infinite except for Him. Everything has an end point. An expiration date. Flowers bloom and then fade. Seasons change. The sun and moon cycle through the sky. Even the seemingly endless season or impossible situation you find yourself in must meet its end in time. Like our ship eventually reached the shores of the Caribbean Sea, if you just keep moving–one step, one day at a time–you will eventually reach your own shore.
The journey may be long, you may feel weary, but don’t give up yet! It was amazing how, even on “flat” open water where you can see for miles, the horizon could look empty for hours and days at a time, and then all of sudden, the land would seem to come out of nowhere. In the same way, your destination might be closer than you think! In a day, a month, a year, you could suddenly look up and see the answer to your prayers waiting ahead of you. And when the journey reaches its inevitable conclusion, the time it took to get there won’t matter nearly as much as the destination itself.
This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
~ Habakkuk 2:3
Photo by Adrian Balcan on Unsplash
