The Tides of Sorrow

Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 
— Luke 11:10

Lately, I've fallen into discouragement and sadness about various situations and predicaments in my life.

I can usually tell when I'm on a journey towards Depression Ave, and it's usually a conscious decision on my part.

And though it's been a good while since I last visited, the surroundings are still vividly familiar.

On the way I pass all of the usual signs and banners:

Discouragement. Pressure. Loneliness. Despair. Nostalgic melancholy.

It wasn't until today that I realized why the tides of sorrow had swept me out to the Sea of Sadness...

My eyes had been focused on the waves, drawn away from the One who allows me to walk on the water.

Defeat comes knocking when we become focused on our situation.

And if you're anything like me, we love our little "situations" don't we?

We find a perverted satisfaction in taking our situations out of the box, rotating them around in every direction, examining them up close and from far away.

"Woe be unto me, for I have a situation!"

I had allowed myself to become too preoccupied with the situation, instead of watching for Jesus INSIDE the situation.

What is He REALLY accomplishing through this? What is He trying to teach me?

If we accept the truth that He will take care of us no matter what, and that He is faithful in His promise to convert any bad situation into a blessing -- then we can trust that He will not let us drown.

Hope is not lost.

After all, His throne is waterproof.

Comments

[brent]

bro i'll be praying for you. i definitely think about you being kinda bored and lonely over in o-town by yourself. i'm gonna try and get over more. and if you ever wanna come to cocoa beach...
peace.
brent

[Brad]

Hey Brian--it seems we can never get each other on the phone. I want you to know that I love you and am praying for you! I know what you mean about having our "situations." It seems I've had quite a few lately. We shouldn't lose sight that God is in control and that He is with us always!

[Grace]

B, wish I had read this prior to the great wedding...would've asked you about it. How's the situation going?
Waterproof...beautiful thought. :)