Dependable As The Tide

I will never forget the first time I saw the ocean. My family and I had traveled to Daytona Beach for a much needed vacation. As we drove along the main highway through Daytona, I caught a glimpse of the ocean and nearly stopped breathing from the sheer beauty of it. I was awed by the aqua blue color of the water and the whiteness of the sand along the beach. I remember feeling so small. I thought of the scripture, "...All the rivers run into the sea, and yet the sea is not full."
Later that evening I stood on the balcony of our hotel room and looked out over the vast amount of blue and watched the white foam of tide crash upon the beach below. It was almost hypnotic in its routine. Nothing stopped the tide from coming in and going out. It was so predictable--so dependable. It was then I had one of those moments that come when you least expect it, changing how you think forever. The dependability of the tide reminded me of the greater dependability of its creator and I was humbled by the thought.
Oh! how I have taken Him for granted so often. Knowing that He would always be there and would always make the way for me became my comfort zone and, like my favorite chair, I often rested in that comfort without thanking the giver. So many times I had failed to thank Him for being present with me. Just as the tide could be depended upon to come in and go out, creating a beautiful vision before our very eyes, so can our God be depended upon to never leave us or forsake us--He will be there.
There have been times in my life when I felt like I could depend on no one, believe on nothing, and my dreams had all but died. I have had moments of loss and sorrow--moments where I wondered if even God Himself remembered me. Ah, but then there would be that stirring in my Spirit, that whispering in my ear, "I am here. I will always be here.". And, then, in my darkest moment, He would come and I would feel safe and secure in knowing He was there.
We may have little to count on in this life. Friends may fail and family may not understand. Society may frown upon us and the path we walk may not be an easy one. One thing, though, stands sure and certain--we can depend on a God who cannot fail. When we stand alone and face the barreness of life, He is there. When our heads bow low with grief and our hearts are shredded from the agonies of living--He is there. Like the tide upon the sandy shore, He comes. He is as dependable as the tide. He may step away from us, allowing us the opportunity to develop strength and character as we lean on Him, but, like the tide, He will return. He is as good as His Word, "I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world.". Sounds pretty dependable to me.

In Grace,
Marie