Surf’s Up

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Psalm 84:12

ONE OF THE BASIC SKILLS OF surfing is learning how to catch a wave. As a wave approaches, you must turn toward the beach and paddle as hard as you can. The wave will then lift you and your surfboard. While your natural inclination will be to lean back, it’s important to keep your weight forward and your arms paddling. If you do it right, you’ll find yourself at the highest point of the wave with a decision to make: commit to riding it or bail out.

It may feel scary, but if you lean in and keep going, you’ll start sliding down the face of the wave. Soon the wave will pull you, and then all you have to do is stand up and enjoy the ride! It can actually begin to feel effortless, even natural.

Catching a wave requires taking a risk. But if you don’t take the risk, you’ll end up sitting on your surfboard going nowhere, bobbing up and down in the water. Living out your faith involves a similar risk. Sometimes God will ask you to lean into a situation when all you want to do is bail out. At those times, you have to trust the Lord.

Psalm 84:12 reminds us that trusting in the Lord results in happiness. Why? Because God is trustworthy! When you give up control and trust God, that’s when you begin to experience the abundant life. That’s when faith becomes exciting. That’s when your understanding of God’s power and grace really begins to grow. Don’t be afraid to risk.

BOTTOM LINE

To enjoy true happiness, you have to fully commit yourself to God, even if it feels scary. Is there something that God has been nudging you to step out and do?

Moment of Strength: Psalm 37:5-7