Emily Stuart: The Ocean

~Natural Setting~

Psalm 93 says, “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.” To know in your head that this verse is true, that the Lord is truly mightier than the waves of the sea, will never reach the heart of the believer unless the mightiness of the ocean has been felt and heard and seen.

Once my close friend gazed out into the deep waters and sighed, “It’s so much easier to be a Christian by the Ocean.” At first the statement struck me as odd and a bit shallow, but as I further examined it, I found I totally sympathize with her statement. The Bible and many beautiful songs of praise present analogies of God’s love, graciousness, mercy, and justice in comparison to the sea. A relatable understanding of the depths, power, and unfathomable vastness of the ocean helps me not only visualize these same qualities that are attributed to God, but also feel His presence in the moment of learning. It’s one thing to learn about God’s infiniteness in a sermon or lesson, and a completely different one to experience Him in a particular place and time, encapsulated by His presence. The Living Water is real and alive in the ocean and I feel alive when I see the Living Water in person. To taste the brine and know we are called to be the salt of the earth… He is an endless ocean, a bottomless sea.