About a year ago, my wife and I went on a vacation to Florida with my family. While there, I had a lot of fun body boarding because of exceptionally large waves due to a tropical storm south of where we were. I decided to buy a quality board while I was there and had dreams of instantly riding the waves at a professional level. Though I did have fun and even had a few really good rides, ultimately I spent most of my time getting beat up and crushed by the waves.
I ended up in a lot of trouble on the last day we were there. I had been riding the waves for over an hour and the waves were bigger than I had ever experienced. I really was worn out and decided to ride one last wave. In the process of trying to catch the 'last big wave,' I got swept out by a rip tide. I knew instantly when I could no longer touch the ocean floor, especially since I am 6'4", that I was in trouble! I had no strength left and don't even want to consider what would've happened if I hadn't bought a board that could support my weight.
As I floated up and down on the waves and watched the shore continue to pull away from me, I must admit that I went into a quiet panic. In my head I knew that I had to do anything I could to get back to a place where I could touch the bottom and make it back to the shore. In my desperation, I dropped into a wave that was way to large and very dangerous and ultimately ended up getting raked across the bottom and tearing up both my shoulder and face. I did make it back to the shore but I walked out in broken and in pain.
If I can be honest tonight, I feel like I am back on my board watching the shore pull farther and farther away. I am doing everything I can to survive and find direction right now. I am desperate to get back to that place of peace and strength in the Lord. I would give anything for a week to recuperate, recenter, and recharge both physically, mentally, and spiritually. Unlike when I threw myself into a wave that broke me, I am hoping that the Lord will throw me a lifesaver and pull me back to center.
Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever known where you needed to be and yet you felt like everything was against you and that you weren't strong enough to make it on your on? Well your in good company because I know many brothers and sisters, including myself, who have been and are there.
I write all of this because I have spent the whole day dwelling on how to get back to the shore. MY heart has been wrestling with what the Lord is asking me to do and what I am willing to do. Some of these things are so simple and yet our flesh fights so adamantly against us doing them most of the times. Here are some of the things the Lord has laid on my heart and I hope they will be helpful to you also.
First, the Lord has convicted my heart of my lack of love for the Bible. It seems that I put everything else in my life before the Bible. My heart selfishly desires rest over God, not realizing that true rest is found in God. I have a million excuses for why I never get to the Bible and yet none of them override my need to firmly place my life within the Bible.
Second, the Lord has been challenging me on my need of mentors in my life. I have two wonderful brothers in Christ whom I am so thankful for in my life but unfortunately both of them are hours away from me right now. The Lord has been showing me my need for a man of God from my church to train and challenge me in my walk. No matter whether you are a man or woman, you need Christian brother and sister's to come beside you and help give you strength and and guidance in Christ. I would also recommend finding someone close to your age whom you can walk beside with as accountability partners and someone older and stronger in their Christian walk to train and develop you in your own walk.
Third, though I, especially as a new parent, have a great desire for sleep and downtime, I need to be diligent about spending time fellowshipping with the body of Christ at my church. The church is where you should grow, mature, and center yourself in Christ. You should be able to find a group of friends to fellowship in Christ with. You should feel as though your Pastor is pulling you deeper into a walk with Christ through faithful Biblical teaching. Most important of all, you should find a ministry to actively serve in. This is because, as Christians, we are to actively serve for Christ. If all we do is take from the church, then we will the honor of teaching and serving for Christ.
Please pray for me as I struggle to grow closer to Christ through implementing each of these in my life. Each of us how areas in our life where we can grow in our walk with Jesus. We will all go through mountain tops and valleys. I pray that each one of you will grow closer to the Lord in your daily walk. Know that even if you feel like I do at time, floating far from shore and desperate, the Lord will always be there to pull you to shore. Just call to Him and know He will be there for you. I hope this blog will help your heart and walk tonight.
Blessings,
Greg Ivey
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