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God is not out to get you. Make no mistake, even when life feels as if wave after wave is pounding up against you, God is not at work to destroy His people. That would be out of His character and inconsistent with His word. God does not want to destroy His people, but He does want to refine us. Purify us. Shape us. He desires to create within our hearts and minds something new and more Christ-like.

For whatever reason, we are sitting in a season of waves. Deaths. Illnesses. Building Campaigns. Complications with work. Anxiety. Deadline after deadline. Calendars so full that steal time for recharging. Friends in crisis. Marriage strain. Kids needing more.

We aren’t fit to carry it all. We may have thought we were strong, but at some point, the power behind the waves begins to leave us at best swaying and slipping with the current, and at worst floundering in the surf barely keeping our head above the water. Have you been there? Are you there right now?

It’s so interesting that I keep trying to “push through.” In a compromised state – I keep pushing. No doubt God desires us to persevere, but I think God wants us to recognize and fully comprehend that He doesn’t want us to keep pushing through life on our own accord. He wants us to lean into Him. Depend upon Him. He wants us to remember that He is the One who is not our the rock upon which we stand in the midst of the waves, but God is also the One who calms them!

God’s love for His people is so great, and His power is so huge – but we forget God’s character. We forget that God is faithful and true. We forget that God will not ever go against His word. God will not leave us, nor will He forsake or abandon us. Life will still bring its waves – but we are standing next to the lifeguard! We do not need to fear the waves. Our God is always in control. He is always on duty. The waves – even those of biggest proportion – are nothing to Him.

Do you need a reminder? I certainly seem to! It is not that I haven’t heard the words before – but sometimes what I know seems to give way to what I feel. How I wish that wasn’t true! Feelings are so easily overwhelmed! God’s truth – His word – is constant and reliable. Soak up the truth of God’s love, power, and protection over His people out of Psalm 91.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (v. 1-4)

Let’s stop right there for a second. Is God the One in whom you are seeking refuge? Is He the One you are looking to for help? If He is, you can rest assured that He will shelter and protect you. He will hold you. Is it possible that we are being pounded by the surf, while One is standing next to us with an outstretched hand, but we are refusing to grasp it? We remain determined to save ourselves? Why would God reinforce our bad behavior and faulty thinking? Why would He calm the storms in that time or in that way so that we somehow believe we were in control? Remember God is after a relationship of dependence upon Him.

“If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” (v. 9-12)

When you are seeking God for everything, God provides us with all we need. Evil cannot conquer us. Protection is provided for us.

“The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” (v. 14-16)

God will be with us in our times of greatest need. In the midst of any trouble that life throws our way – we need only to call out to God and He will answer. His presence is with us. Saving us.

Friend, this piece of scripture (the entire 91st Psalm) says that when we are God’s people and when we seek Him to be our help we are saved. Attacks from armies will not succeed. Disease and plagues will not overtake us. Even the fierce attacks from lions and snakes will not overpower us. It has nothing to do with our strength. It has nothing to do with the waves of life. It has everything to do with the character, power, strength, and love of the One who saves! All we need to do is take Him at His word.

Blessings!