Living Water by Andy West

Image: WSL/Ed Sloane

I had a just ridden a great wave (for me) and I was psyched to get back out to the line-up. I was a few hours into the session (a long one for me) and my arms were tired. It was a bigger day than normal so I wondered if I should time the sets to save some energy, or paddle right back out. That moment reminded me of God’s timing and the opportunities we have to trust him in all aspects of our lives. He may calm the seas in our lives making life a smooth paddle to refresh us, or He may challenge us with adversity so we build perseverance and demonstrate courage. He knows what need in that moment and He is asking us to place our trust and hope in Him.

The warrior king David encourages us in the Psalms to “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalms 27:14 NLT. It’s a good reminder that even the greatest warriors need to practice patience and summon up bravery and courage by placing their trust in our great God. Most of us probably grow up knowing that patience and courage are important virtues to live out. What’s taken me longer to understand and practice, is the opportunity to fully trust Him in those ‘time the set’ moments. What He’s teaching me is if I will trust that He knows me best, He knows the situation best, and He has the best in store for me, then he will provide the patience and courage I need in those moments.

Today, let’s check who or what we’re counting on in those key moments – is it our own strength to paddle back out through the walls of whitewater, is it our own intelligence to count the waves, or is it our good Father who is inviting us to trust Him so He can lovingly bless us, strengthen us, teach us, and keep us in relationship with Him