Your Reward

I was on a Surf and Serve recently and after an epic morning surf, the wind came up a little and no one wanted to paddle out. I wanted to surf so I paddled and soon found out why no one else wanted to surf. The wind had come up more than “a little”. Conditions changed rapidly – howling wind and strong current – I seriously paddled for 55 minutes against the current, without catching a wave. I was totally lost out there, surfing a new place, a new wave, couldn’t find my lineup markers or even really get myself back to the point. I kept paddling even though my muscles were aching and shoulders were burning.
Honestly, I was getting ready to ‘paddle of shame’ it in but just as I was ready to give up a turtle popped up next to me. I love seeing turtles in the lineup so I was stoked and started thinking, even if I go in now, seeing that turtle was such an awesome reward.

But then I felt God saying, no don’t quit. If you just keep going and push through, a reward is waiting for you. A greater reward than what you believe you had already been given. So I put my head down and kept paddling, fighting the current, fighting the noodle arms… and then I saw it. The wave I had seen on the beach, that made me want to paddle out, a set, hitting the reef just right.
How often in our walks do we give up when things get hard, or throw in the towel when we see how much work it will take? It makes me wonder about the blessings, the rewards that the Lord had prepared for us that we might not ever get to experience because of our lack of commitment and faith. Or because we accepted what we thought was the reward when there was a greater reward waiting. If God has said it, it will come to pass, don’t quit, your reward, your perfectly positioned set wave, is coming.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Photographer: Leason Dancaescu