by JONI EARECKSON TADA
Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
When the weather turns warm, I think back to summertime days spent in the sand dunes near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The powerful waves deafening noise thrilled yet frightened me. But when I swam far out beyond the breakers, I was amazed at how subdued the waves seemed. Then, when I dove beneath the surface, the underwater acoustics made the thunderous roar sound distant and gentle. These remembrances came vividly to mind the other day when I read a poem by Frances Havergal.
On the surface foam and roar,
Restless heave and passionate dash,
Shingle rattle on the shore,
Gathering boom and thundering crash.
Under the surface, soft green light,
A hush of peace and an endless calm,
Winds and waves from a choral height,
Falling sweet as a far off psalm.
Shes right. Although a majestic and powerful beauty rests on the oceans surface, you find more beauty when you dive beneath the waves. A world of luxuriant seaweed swaying gracefully, of colorful shells, and of small fish darting here and there awaits you.
Just as with the ocean, when you dive beneath the surface things with God, you discover an endless calm. A world of divine life that is deep and quiet. God reveals a gentle interior beauty. (The Lord is so generous even when we choose only to live on the surface of things, God still reveals himself. But theres much more to him then what you see on the surface). So, dive deep into His heart. All the turmoil of your daily life, all the problems that crash around you like huge waves will seem somehow distant.
Now Ill let my seashore friend, Frances Havergal, take you for that deeper dive. Look beneath the surface.
* * * * *
There are strange, soul depths,
Restless and vast, unfathomed as the sea.
An infinite craving for some infinite stilling.
And, lo, His perfect love is perfect filling.
Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God,
Thou, thou are enough for me.
Lord, help each of us look deep 'beneath the surface'. Thank You that as we do this we'll find Your perfect peace - the peace that only Jesus can give - the peace that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7
Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
When the weather turns warm, I think back to summertime days spent in the sand dunes near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The powerful waves deafening noise thrilled yet frightened me. But when I swam far out beyond the breakers, I was amazed at how subdued the waves seemed. Then, when I dove beneath the surface, the underwater acoustics made the thunderous roar sound distant and gentle. These remembrances came vividly to mind the other day when I read a poem by Frances Havergal.
On the surface foam and roar,
Restless heave and passionate dash,
Shingle rattle on the shore,
Gathering boom and thundering crash.
Under the surface, soft green light,
A hush of peace and an endless calm,
Winds and waves from a choral height,
Falling sweet as a far off psalm.
Shes right. Although a majestic and powerful beauty rests on the oceans surface, you find more beauty when you dive beneath the waves. A world of luxuriant seaweed swaying gracefully, of colorful shells, and of small fish darting here and there awaits you.
Just as with the ocean, when you dive beneath the surface things with God, you discover an endless calm. A world of divine life that is deep and quiet. God reveals a gentle interior beauty. (The Lord is so generous even when we choose only to live on the surface of things, God still reveals himself. But theres much more to him then what you see on the surface). So, dive deep into His heart. All the turmoil of your daily life, all the problems that crash around you like huge waves will seem somehow distant.
Now Ill let my seashore friend, Frances Havergal, take you for that deeper dive. Look beneath the surface.
* * * * *
There are strange, soul depths,
Restless and vast, unfathomed as the sea.
An infinite craving for some infinite stilling.
And, lo, His perfect love is perfect filling.
Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God,
Thou, thou are enough for me.
Lord, help each of us look deep 'beneath the surface'. Thank You that as we do this we'll find Your perfect peace - the peace that only Jesus can give - the peace that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7
