When I lived in southern California, I made Newport Beach one of my weekly stops. This is a popular spot for surfers because of the immense waves. I found it a great place to plant a beach chair and enjoy the beach sounds and sights. It became one of my favorite places for prayer.
I’d try to get there early, so I could watch the large waves roll in and crash onto the beach from a safe distance. The thundering sound sometimes took my breath away. The waves eroded away sandy beach cliffs without anyone’s permission.
Recently God brought this image to mind. Instead of being in a beach chair, I was standing on one of those beach cliffs.
Krishana, look at where you’re standing.
What do You mean?
Consider how you created those cliffs.
I imagined buckets of sand labeled with the encouragement and praise I received.
Krishana, what happens when the buckets go empty?
I begin looking for more.
Why?
I think it makes me feel better about myself, more confident, and even secure when I know someone approves.
But, dear Krishana, the sandy beach cliffs don’t last. There aren’t enough buckets full of sand to make this foundation solid. Do you see the waves?
As I stood there, I could see the waves growing, getting bigger and bigger with every second that passed.
Here they come. The hurtful words, the failures, even the analytical acrobatics happening in my mind that pull me into another reality. I put my hands over my eyes peeking through as they grew bigger and closer.
Right before they crashed on the beach I quickly jumped back. I watched as the two places where I had planted my feet were gone.
This isn’t where I called you to stand, Krishana.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2, NIV).
The truth is that I stand in God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension changed everything about where I stand. His foundation of Truth says, I’m chosen, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, graced, and loved (Ephesians 1:3-14).
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