Where’s My Waves

I’ve surfed all over the world. It started when I was barely able to walk, yet my dad had me on the nose of his board in a life jacket. As a teenager, I refined my surfing in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. I only progressed from there, and the need for good waves grew. Fast forward to age 20, I found I was in a state of constant discontent. Always itching to go surfing, anywhere. Longing to get away from work, responsibilities, and my everyday life. When I would find time to go surfing, usually it was on a mission trip or a few day vacation with my family. There were always people with me.

 If the conditions weren’t near perfect, you better believe I wasn’t happy. “I came all this way for this?” I would think to myself. It would leave a sour taste with me the whole time. I was worse off than when I was at home longing to go. Especially when someone else caught a wave and I didn’t. I remember one fateful session, asking God (more like demanding)

“God, where are my waves?”

Still pouting, I heard two words

“Your waves?”.

That’s all it took, one deadly blow to my ego. Psalms 35:7-9 came to mind “7- How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8- They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your rivers of delights. 9- For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

 I was trying to get my enjoyment from something that wasn’t mine. I was trying to make my own joy when the Lord said that He is our joy. I was trying to find life in waves I could ride for about 3 to 5 seconds, instead of asking the Lord for a drink from his “rivers of delight”. From then on, my focus changed.

Chasing after the joy of the Lord. Feasting “on the abundance of his house”, getting my fulfillment from Him. Yes, surfing is super fun, and I still love it. For almost a decade now, I bask in the goodness of God by just praising him in the water. So what if I don’t catch anything? So what if the conditions are crummy? They are the Lord’s waves. If I am seeking the Light of the Lord, all I will see is God’s glory. There, I will find some glorious waves.