Rebecca Davis  Ranson, West Virginia

Think back to the last vacation you have taken. I’m guessing it may have been similar to mine. Oh, the relaxation, the joy, and the adventures we had while on vacation at the beach. Not exactly. The kids wanted to do different activities. I just wanted to relax in the sun and watch the waves crash upon the shore, collect sea shells, see the sunrise or sleep in, watch the sunset, and stroll slowly along the boardwalk. Wait, that was my other vacation, my spiritual journey. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, family vacations are great. I always have an excellent time on the beach playing in the sand and water with my children.  However, my spiritual journey to the beach was an awakening that I will never forget. If you have never taken a spiritual journey, it is time. It doesn’t have to be to the beach or an extravagant getaway. All you need is time alone with God. Find a place with few interruptions. Go to a place where you can seek Him. 

I set off during my spring break from school. It just happened to be in March. Yes, it was a little cold for the beach.  However, I love the beach. An added bonus, the hotels were cheap. My goal was to finish writing my book. I did get a lot written, but I never did finish the book on that trip. What I brought home was life changing.  

The entire drive, I was thinking about my writing and planning my time. I had never, since being a mom, been away anywhere alone. I felt free. I love my kids, but there was a sense of freedom.  I had a little guilt, but still I was alone and I wanted to do everything I could. Once I arrived, my plan went out the window. The best human planning is nothing when God takes the reigns. After all, Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Spending time with the Lord in meditation, prayer and song was how I’d spend this trip. 

Strolling along the beach was relaxing. There were shells everywhere. Whole, decent sized shells were strewn all over. When the beach is full of tourists, it’s hard to find shells. I walked and talked to God. I began collecting shells. I was searching for one shell in particular, a conch. So, there I was talking with God and scanning the beach for the perfect shell. Many look good from a distance, until you pick it up and see that it has a crack. I continued my search; walking and talking, and listening.  

While walking the beach praying and meditating, I found myself praying for that shell.  I know that sounds quite silly and quite small. The scripture says. “Ask and it shall be given.” It was like finding a needle in a haystack. There were shells everywhere, but that type especially whole ones were few and far between. I searched and searched.  Just as I was about to give up for the day, I found what I was looking for. It was smaller than I imagined, but I found it. That’s just how life is. When we are getting ready to give up, God shows us how powerful He is. He shows us that He can do all things and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It really wasn’t about the shell after all.  

If it wasn’t about the shell, then what was it? It was about asking and it was about faith and answered prayers. If we don’t ask, we cannot receive. God reminded me that He is faithful in the little things. If He can show up for a shell, how much more faithful will He be when life throws us something huge. It was a reminder of His promises. When we do what God has for us, He promises to do certain things as well. Look at Romans 8:28. “And we know that all thing work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” He promises that things will work out for good if we do our part, love him and to be called according to His purpose. The promises do not stop there.  
When God shows us His blessings, great and small, we have to be faithful with what we are given. Even if it is not exactly what we are looking for or if the answer is wait or even no, we have to be grateful. Tell yourself, “If I am going to do it, if I am going to have it, if I am going to be it, God will provide ALL that is necessary. And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) No need to worry.  Just be faithful, obedient, and thankful.

That wasn’t all I was looking for while walking the beach.  I also wanted a rock tumbled smooth by the ocean.  Although I was praying on my walks, I was not praying for a rock like I had the shell. It is amazing how God speaks to us if we slow ourselves down long enough to really listen and hear His voice. I was walking along and I found the perfect smooth rock. I bent down to pick it up and just as I touched it, it split apart. I couldn’t believe it. I barely touched it. I said aloud, “It would be perfect; if it weren’t broken.” 

God stopped me in my tracks. He said, “You are broken and you are perfect. I picked up both pieces of that perfectly broken rock and put them in my pocket. He wasn’t finished yet. “You are created in my image. I formed you in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yes, my dear, you are broken, but you are perfect. ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.’” Ephesians 2:10 

We are not perfect like Jesus. In fact, “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) It is only with God’s grace and mercy that we are forgiven and in our brokenness made perfect. We should strive to be perfect like Jesus. Matthew 5:28 tells us, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We should see our perfection, through the eyes of Christ, comparing with His standards and not those of the world. Stop allowing the world to be our guide and use God’s word as our measure. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good. And acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

Take care of your (His) temple, strive for perfection, know that even if you are a little broken, you are perfect. The mighty God we serve will mend all your broken pieces back together. Stay on the Potter’s wheel and allow him to mold you. 

The last thing I was searching for was a piece of driftwood to take back. I wanted to place it beside my front walk to remember the trip. I found several pieces of various sizes. One was just the right size.  I thought maybe I would find a better piece if I just kept looking. I continued my walk, talking and praying enjoying the beach. 

As I was walking, I imagined the rocks worn smooth by the waves and the drift wood worn and tossed by the current. Both left haphazardly upon the shore. At times, life feels like we are the rock or wood being tumbled around, pieces of us being chipped off and worn away by life.  Eventually, we are left alone, weary and heavy. It’s at those times that we can remember that He tells us to come to Him when we are heavy laden, and He will give us rest. Matthew 11:28-30

There were a couple lessons I learned with the drift wood. The first was that we all go through tumultuous situations. When we work with God and allow Him to mold us, we come out smooth. All the rough edges and chips are remolded. We go through fire and end up being refined like gold. Job 23:10 confirms this. “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” 

The other lesson was a hard to swallow. I went back to get that piece of drift wood I had seen first.  Problem was there was a guy sitting right there behind it. I passed it by hoping to find another piece. I didn’t want to be the crazy person picking up pieces of wood. So I kept on moving. 

The message was very blunt. “Deny me before man and be denied.” Matthew 10:32-33 Huh? It was just a piece of wood. It was a piece of wood that I wanted, not a kingdom assignment. His message was to be confident in who you are and what you stand for. It may just be a piece of wood now. However, if you aren’t confident and faithful enough to stand for the small things, how can He trust you with the larger things like His ministry and saving souls? I was embarrassed at myself. 

We have to stand for who we are and what we want and for our God. We need to take our brokenness, knock on God’s door and hand it over to Him to make us whole. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto our own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Trust Him in ALL things great and small.  When we seek Him, He will find us and meet us where we are and provide everything we need.  

 

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for who you are. Thank you for being the author and finisher of my faith. Help me, Lord, to seek you first and not get direction and validation from the world. Help me to knock on your door and ask for my needs and my desires. I know that my provision for life and living comes from you. Keep me strong and steadfast as I stand for you and your kingdom. Help me to honor your temple and strive for perfection. As the world tries to give various standards, keep it in my mind that I have been fearfully and wonderfully made since the beginning. Take my brokenness and mold it; smooth out the rough edges and keep me whole. With thanksgiving, I give you all honor and all praise for you are worthy.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

 

Memory Verse:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19