A Crown of Life

We’ve all experienced it. You catch a wave and look out the back to see lines and lines of set waves coming at you. Typically, I will face the waves, take long deep breaths, and the duck dives or turtles marathon begins! At my home break, even if it’s just a few waves you need to go under. By the time you look around, you most likely got swept into the impact zone by the current or pushed to the inside and are now stuck getting past the inside to make it back out to the lineup. 

Recently, I’ve had a similar experience in life. Just wave after wave of things happened, and I was doing my best to stay strong, duck under each challenge, and face the next. But we all hit a breaking point… and I was certainly close to mine. I found myself living a moment at a time because a day at a time was just too much at once. Then while fighting to get back in “the lineup,” there was God reminding me to breathe and rely on His strength to get me through. 

It certainly is a challenge to go through life’s unexpected waves pounding us over and over again, but the reward of getting back in the lineup and catching another wave is what pushes us to keep paddling. But lucky for us, God doesn’t just promise us a great wave when we persevere. He promises us a crown of life! There will be hard times to endure, and there will be moments of catching the best wave of your life, but God remains with us through it all. 

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."