A few years back, in a desperate attempt to escape from the insanity of life, I went on a vacation to Maui. The most memorable day was spent on the beach bathing in the sun with my sister. As the ocean waves became increasingly larger that afternoon, we decided to have a little fun playing in them. Once in the water, the power of the ocean reminded me of the weakness of my humanity. As waves washed over me, any sense of control I thought I had in the water vanished.On shore I collapsed in exhaustion from fighting the strength of the waters. The commanding waves physically exhausted me, much like the mental and spiritual exhaustion I felt from attempts to fight and control the turbulent waters of life. It is with a similar feeling that the exiled psalmist pens his thoughts as he gazes from afar upon the waterfalls of the Jordan River.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to my living God.
~Psalm 42:6-8
Far from home the psalmist longingly remembers his God. The waters of the Jordan become a powerful metaphor of the waters of life that have overtaken him in his exile. He feels as if he is drowning by the very waves that God created.
Only when the psalmist senses a complete lack of control does he see God’s love directing his life. This love reminds him of the song of God he once sang in the temple, and he allows it to calm him like a nighttime lullaby in the darkness of life.
It is no accident that the psalmist refers to the LORD, Yahweh, when speaking of love. This is the only time the psalmist refers to God as Yahweh. The personal name of God is used here because it is the name of Israel’s covenant God, and the psalmist is reminding himself that Yahweh’s faithful, committed, covenant love endures forever, seeing him through his pain.
In life I often feel as if I’m in the ocean waters of Maui again; I’m fighting to gain control of the untamable. As life’s waves and breakers wash over me, I exhaust myself fighting everything that doesn’t fit my plans or desires. Only when I become exhausted enough to let go of the fight, am I able to gain the understanding that God’s love is guiding me through the turbulent waves of life.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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2 comments:
I thank God for giving you this insight, it's right where we are and have been for over a year. He recently said to us to "Let it go." As I sought Him to understand what He meant, the first thing was "to forgive"- people, circumstances, ourselves (thru His forgiveness of course). And then to quit trying to "fix things", or "control", like you said, but to "wait for Him" instead, as usual. I like the part about remembering His faithful love. Thanks. God Bless you, Stephanie. Devita (& Ross)
ditto & thanks for sharing this perspective on God's sovereignty and faithfulness.
Blessings!
Christine Carter
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