I laid out yesterday, on the beach.
Do you see the ocean?
The sun shine that was warming my soul?
I laid out yesterday, and the day before,
on the beach with Jesus.
He sent these sun rays to invite me in,
and he warmed my soul
as if I really was on vacation.
And it was wonderful!
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Vacations are one of my favorite things, y’all.
I used to live for them.
Like literally- I would work with vacations in mind,
and then in my overworking I would find myself more restless than ever for the sound of the waves, to drown out the stress in my soul.
It was like a riptide-
A terrible cycle keeping me under the surface
of what God really has for us.
{Fresh air and sunshine.}
The thing is- I still love vacations!
I just don’t live for them anymore.
I still love the beach-
the beautiful sights and sounds and smells,
the warm and salty ocean air.
The reminder of life’s ebbs and flows,
and Jesus’s faithfulness to keep showing up daily just like the sun rises and sets.
The perfect place for resetting our rhythms. Relearning to breathe in, breathe out.
The invitation to just “be” for a moment.
Paused in pursuit and simply savoring.
To just bask in the sun.
{Bask:
intransitive verb
1 : to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
basking in the warmth of the sun
2 : to take pleasure or derive enjoyment
basked in the spotlight
transitive verb
obsolete : to warm by continued exposure to heat}
Sometimes looking up definitions helps me understand better what God is doing in my soul.
Because I can’t explain it,
and maybe it sounds crazy,
but my soul felt like it was at the beach yesterday
and the day before,
not ALL day- just for the 15 minutes I laid there.
No- definitely not all day, which is why I came to God for that moment anyway.
I needed an escape,
and I needed it sooner than I could plan and get on any vacation.
And God offered it to me- instantly.
And now I don’t NEED a vacation anymore.
And I don’t have to push through the pain to earn one so that I can reset my soul.
How brilliant is He in this?
I can have the reset NOW!
And if I get to go on vaca also,
then that’s just more cake I can be thankful for!
But the beach is just a bonus.
HE is the escape! HE is the sunshine! HE is the warm and salty fresh air for my soul!
And we can bask in Him a.n.y.w.h.e.r.e!
How amazing is that?
He used the rays to invite me in.
And yesterday I basked in Him on an Indiana December, on my toddler’s bed with my eyes closed (because it was directly in the sunshine and because this momma’s back doesn’t love laying on the floor 😉.)
But He has shown me I can just as easily and profitably bask in Him on a rainy day, in my car, with no sun at all.
He has helped me bask in Him even in times I have been stuck in bed, so that my soul doesn’t really feel stuck at all.
Turns out the beach was never really my favorite,
it was HIM all along.
Anywhere He is with me and I can sense Him is my favorite-
so everywhere can be my favorite!
Isn’t that divine and freeing?
7 years ago I took a trip to one of my favorite beaches, and embarked on a quest to have more “beach moments.” I prayed for it and determined, with God as my witness, to Trust Him for it. I decided to BELIEVE and walk on the belief that His plans for me were good.
He took me on several beach trips since then.
Like -for real- actual beach trips.
To Florida, Punta Cana, Bahamas, Maui.
Ones I never even imagined going on.
Spectacular beauty and wonderful company!
But dare I say?
The best “trip” He has taken me on is the path to understanding that peace and contentment and joy even… they don’t lie in a set of “perfect” circumstances and surroundings.
They’re not just for once (or if you are extra blessed, several) times a year.
They’re not dependent upon our income, career or leadership status, schedule, or freedom to “roam about the country”…
They’re for any and every moment that we need them.
And not only don’t we have to chase them…
or pack for them…
or even plan for them…
He pursues US with gentle reminders
to take advantage of His trips…
like the rays He sent in through my window yesterday…
as if the sun (Son) was not simply shining but going the extra distance to extend into my world.
You guys.
God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit.
They’re just ridiculously, lavishly, amazingly wonderful ☀️
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