This is a guest post by David Norman. David is a Christ-follower, a husband, a daddy, a pastor, a seminary student, a musician, and a blogger. He is currently at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth pursuing his M.Div. in Expository Preaching.
I love the beach – the sand between your toes, the gentle rhythm of the surf, the calming motion of the swells as you bob in the water. It just doesn’t get better than that.
This past weekend my family took a vacation down to Corpus Christi. One of the major reasons we went had to do with my eldest son’s 10th birthday. And his big request was simple – he wanted to go to the beach.
Requests like that make this daddy proud.
And more than willing to give him what he asks for.
And as we played at in the water, swam out to the second sand bar, built sand castles, and splashed in the shallows, it struck me.
What I like most about the beach is that I can get lost in it.
I can be wholly and completely immersed.
I can drive to a spot on the beach where no other human can be seen (at least I could when I owned my Jeep). I can swim to a spot deep enough that I can’t dive to the bottom. I can swim out in the Gulf so far that I can’t hear any other voice but my own (and if I listen, His). I can be completely swallowed by the enormity of the waters.
Nothing (apart from Scripture) brings me more comfort, hope, and assurance in the sheer magnitude of God than being immersed at the beach. However expansive the sky or the waters may seem from my perspective, He is greater still. And with that in mind, all of my cares, concerns, struggles, and questions become far less worrisome. In fact, they begin to seem rather small and fade away.
And in that serene sanctuary of God’s Creation, I discover the peace of knowing that there is nothing that I will face that can possibly compete with His grandeur.
Where do you experience the magnitude of God?
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I love to take walks. To me there is nothing better.
walks are nice, but not when it’s 110+ outside!
Getting up first in my house and spending an hour with God is the best.
That sounds nice. Unfortunately for me, my kids are generally up long before the crack of dawn…
I am up at 5 am
Sweet! I think this new season that I’m about to step intO is going to require less sleep. I’m actually looking forward to it!
Great post and how do I love the word, immersed. I read once that God is the ocean that we swim in – he is all around us. Perhaps that is why I love the beach like you do.
Jean Wise recently posted…Thanking God for Weeds
that’s beautiful Jean
I’m with you, David. Love getting lost in His presence. I’m a musician/singer so I love spending time worshipping Him and receive such a refreshing from those encounters.
Great way to express this–thanks David.
Wow, great post. Just reading this post took me back to my childhood on the beach. As a child the beach was where I could immerse myself in Gods creation. Now, as an adult in Tennessee(no ocean), I look to the star filled sky in the middle of the country. So quiet I often hear His voice. I feel His magnificence as I gaze at the multitude of the stars. This is when and where I feel closest to our Creator. I’m passing along the benefit to my grandchildren too. Whenever they are with me we take walks into open fields and spend hours stargazing. So much peace can be found in Creation. Thank you for posting and taking me back to a place of freedom and happiness.
Peace -
Terrific Tonya Heathco
National Seizure Disorders Foundation
Yes!
I grew up on a 400+ acre ranch and can completely relate to staring up at a massive star-filled, night sky.
I love that
For me it’s when I’m in the mountains, but then maybe that’s because I live on an Island and am surrounded by beaches
lol.
I’ll never forget sitting on the side of Pike’s Peak in Colorado and the view just absolutely taking my breath away.
wonderful post – and one of the very reasons I so highly prize time in nature with HIM. Its also why I so highly advocate “NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE”.
Where else but in nature can you be swept away in the presence of the magnificence of His handiwork? I have but to stand out under the limitless heavens of the night sky and see the miracle of northern lights to admire and to get lost and immersed in Him. ♥
awesome.
The sea, the sky, a leaf or an ant, God can be seen and felt in all of these if you look close enough.
But by living in the city and with our busy lives it’s becoming more and more difficult to do it.
We need breaks like these to reconnect.
Lynn Sanders recently posted…Medical Assistant Career
Yes we do Lynn!
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Praying for our children