Grace whisperings...

I love to kayak.

And I feel like God speaks to me or maybe I just hear Him better (listen better?) when I’m out paddling alone on the lake. So many correlations to my life come from my encounters with the water and the wildlife I see out there.

Yesterday, I struck out on placidly calm water thinking, “what a great calm and quiet paddle this will be.”

My life is like that sometimes….calm, placid, peaceful…not as often as I’d like for it to be, but sometimes.

Yesterday was not one of those days. ….which is why I decided to throw the kayak in the water and get off by myself with my thoughts and with whatever God would teach me that afternoon.

Not 10 minutes into my paddle, the wind picked up, the waves got rough, and some pretty chilly water started splashing over the bow onto my legs. I hunkered down and paddled harder. The calm, quiet, and peaceful paddle was over….at least for a time.

My life is like that sometimes…rough, unsteady, cold…..not often, but sometimes.

I wasn’t afraid of the water that rocked my little kayak. I know I am a skilled swimmer and I possess a life jacket. Scripture teaches me that I don’t have to have fear life’s circumstances. I am equipped. I have the ability through the Spirit within me to overcome life’s struggles. Life may buffet me with its uncertainties and may even get difficult to face each day. But, fear and discouragement don’t have to accompany those times. I have a Friend Who walks me through those times. And times they are; for there is a time for everything….a season for all things. And that time will pass and another will take its place. Throughout, I can have joy and I can experience peace because of Whose I am. I praised God for reminding me of that.

And then the wind shifted.

My kayak began to glide easily again as the waves died down and the paddling became easy and rhythmic. And I laughed aloud as I thought about how He graces me, day after day that I live in this hostile place that is not my home. He makes me smile with His grace and my heart sings.

He is faithful.

He never changes.

He loves…me.

How can I not have joy and peace in all things.