Featured Devotion

What's In A Wave (part 2) by Laura Shaw

"For in Him we live and move and have our being."
Acts 17:28a (NIV)

reporters I’ve watched on the news during hurricanes, it still painted a good picture for me of the James
verse above.

As I shared in part one, trials come and go in our lives, often knocking us off our feet. Or at the very least,
they sometimes send us diving for some source of rescue other than the only One who can help us
through it all. We can even begin to make light of our humanness in the midst of the struggle. I know I do at
times. It is clear, however, that God intends for me—for us as Christians to grow in our faith, trusting Him
more and doubting Him less each and every day. I love the way the Message translates James 1:5-8:

“…because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown
and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6b

The first day at the beach on our spring break vacation, it was horribly windy. We
were bound to make the most of our tropical experience, however, so we went
out to bask in the sand and the sun anyway. I don’t remember ever seeing waves
crash like that (in person)! The sand was stinging my legs and getting in my eyes
as it blew at great force. While it wasn’t anything close to the sideway-standing

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.
You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.
Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their
prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves.
Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift
at sea, keeping all your options open.

Okay, so first of all, three truths in one point: He LOVES to help, we’ll GET His help, and we WON’T BE
looked down on WHEN WE ASK FOR IT. Wow. I love that He is so approachable. I don’t ever have to feel
ridiculous or ashamed of needing help with Him. Again, wow. I know this, but I don’t always act like I do.

Secondly, I don’t have to beat around the bush. That phrase about worrying our prayers is really the
problem, isn’t it? If we didn’t worry about what He was going to think of us or if He was listening in the first
place, then we WOULD come before Him boldly and believingly, wouldn’t we?

Finally, if we think we can out-maneuver God, we’re out of luck. Can any other sources of comfort really fill
our hurts, our indecisions or any needs? We can’t have it both ways. We either trust in Him to provide the
help, or we keep our options open and continue to ride the waves of ups and downs that come with the
world’s solutions. I certainly don’t want to become a Christian castaway! (I think I heard an ‘Amen.’)

We must never forget that He-and He alone-has the ability to calm the storm, to stop the wind and the
waves as He sees beneficial to us. I forget several times a day, with all kinds of stuff that comes up, and
there He is, with His powerful Word and His calming Holy Spirit to bring me back to His reality instead of
my own. That makes me breathe more deeply, more calmly, more confidently.

Today. This day. Right now is the time to believe and not doubt. To trust and obey in His perfect way.
Together, let’s do so, I pray.

Lord Jesus, You have searched us and know us. You know that often times
we say we believe You, and yet we still need help overcoming our unbelief.
Forgive us.
Help us and lead us in the way everlasting, Lord, Your way. Help us to trust
You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“O LORD God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O LORD, and
Your faithfulness surrounds You.
You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.”
Psalm 89:8-9

(part 1)