Last week was our annual beach excursion.  I have said in prior posts how much I love the beach and the ocean- the sound of the waves does something to reset my soul.  It’s a peaceful respite from the normal grind.

I love to collect shells from each of our trips. I wish I could tell you that I do something creative with them- I don’t. They are all sitting in labeled, plastic bags somewhere in my home.  On this trip, I walked along the sand and caught a glimpse of a few shells, but they looked like ones that I had already collected on previous beach trips.  There was nothing really special about any of them.  I was wanting something different- some kind of treasure.

I walked out into the water and at the shoreline I noticed some different colors and shapes of shells. As I walked farther into the water, I started to see more unique shells washing up onto the shore.  I gathered one and then another.  As I ventured deeper, the waves hit me harder. When the waves would subside, the water was clearer than it had been at the shore.   I could see larger, whole shells in the sand, waiting to be plucked by my greedy little hand.  I was so excited to grab as many as I could. They were completely different than ones that I had collected on previous trips.  Varying shapes, colors, patterns.

These shells won’t sit in a bag.  They will be put on display as a reminder to me: So many times in my life, I just hang out at the shoreline, content with what I see there.  But I have noticed that if I am willing to go deeper, willing to be patient, if I am willing to take a little battering by the waves of life,  His voice gets a little clearer.   And the treasure is more special than what I can imagine.

“…I,the Lord, am the one who defines the ocean’s sandy shoreline, an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries that I set.” Jer 5:22 He knows the waves that are battering against you- they, too, have a limit.

“For since the world began, no ear has heard, no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” Isaiah 64:4

Wait for him.  Be patient. Let him work on your behalf. Take your battering and stand firm in your faith. The treasure will be worth the wait.

~Shiney