Written By: Terra Gilman
Photo By: Michael Pickett
I was recently reminded of a time I was surfing one of my favorite breaks in South Island, New Zealand. On this day in particular, the typically mushy, slower wave was consistent and powerful with a bit more size than usual. I went out with great zeal, stoked on the swell, only to find myself so frustrated after I caught a wave and could not seem to get back out.
It was strange because what I thought was just a set would not let up. After about thirty minutes of paddling, duck diving, and just not moving at all, I finally began to pray and ask God for some help because I was simply too stubborn to go in. Immediately after I prayed, I felt these words come to mind, “This is what it is like trying to fight your flesh without my Spirit.” Those words sank deep. The waves finally let up for a moment, and I got out of the back after that and began to cry because those words were very significant to the season I was in.
I had been trying to figure out a specific situation and had prayed about it, but then I was white knuckling to handle it on my own. I was reminded of my own story of coming to Jesus in high school, where I had tried to stop certain cycles of pain and sin I was in. But it wasn’t until I fully gave it all over to Jesus and let the power of His Cross and Resurrection transform me that I finally saw incredible change in my life. Two verses came to mind that shaped the rest of that season
Galatians 5:16
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Trust is a crazy thing, much easier said than lived out. But once I fully let God into the situation and asked the Holy Spirit to show me what to do, I knew what I had to do, and there was great peace on the other side of that yes. He really does see what we cannot see or understand. And I’ve found that often when it seems there is no way out, He is simply the only one who can get us out, and all He wants is our full reliance on Him!
