Shores of Grace

I’ve always felt drawn to the ocean and its shore. The sheer vastness of the waters meeting the horizon are reminiscent of looking at the earth side by side with God on a front porch swing.  The peace and serenity draw millions of people around the world to shorelines all throughout the year. We feel closer to God somehow amid tiny grains of sand multiplied to create our foundation meeting the soothing ebbs and flows of the great mysterious ocean. Some spend paycheck after paycheck every year just to escape to these unique spaces of earth to get a momentary taste of grace.

While on my own beach vacation last year, I finished a book called “When Strivings Cease” by Ruth Chou Simons. It was a very timely read for me in that season as almost every page resonated as she shared about “replacing the gospel of self-improvement with the gospel of life-transforming grace”. One sentence near the end of the book stopped me in my tracks. I chose to write it down and meditate on it the rest of our trip to figure out why it hit so deeply. On our last morning there, I dwelled on the shore in the morning sunlight  while repeating that one sentence… "I'm done treading water when the shores of graces are mine to dwell on".

  As I stood on the shores and let the water come back and forth passed my ankles, I felt my feet sink a little. The water flowed by at different heights, different force than the last, never quite the same but familiar. The waters rushing in would bring new objects not always clear, then the absence of water would reveal what was left behind and I’d sink in a bit more. I stood there as long as I could with my feet planted firmly in the sand and simply chose to BE. Nothing else. Dwelling. Then it clicked- THAT is what I desire my relationship with the Lord to feel like. Things will come and go in life; rough, cold waters, refreshing waters, uncomfortable or unknown objects, high tides and low tides. Through it all I want to dwell with God THERE. Firmly grounded in His grace for me. Not treading waters frantically while saying I’m trusting. And when the tide goes out and the waters pass, I want to sink in a little bit more to what He wants to teach me/whisper to me/speak over me/reveal to me. 

Let’s be sons and daughters that dwell a bit longer in His presence and discover more of His amazing grace for us. Grace that declares we don't have to strive any longer to become who Jesus has already made us to be through salvation. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. ‘Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Exodus 34:6 NASB

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