"Deep calls unto deep at the sound of Your waterfalls. All Your waves and billows have gone over me." Psalm 42:7
I have spent much of my life around water. I grew up within walking distance of a large lake where I would spend much of my time swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Later, I joined the United States Marine Corps where I became a reconnaissance swimmer for an amphibious "Raider" unit. A great deal of my time was spent in or on the ocean. Perhaps for this reason the Biblical imagery of water and waves, billows and torrents really resonates with me.
The ocean provides powerful symbolism for our lives. Sometimes the ocean is calm and peaceful, while other times it is a place of great turmoil. A source of both calm and of great fear, of life and of death.
What is happening on the ocean's surface may be quite different than what is happening underneath. The surface of the ocean is immediately responsive to the wind and to numerous other influences, but the ocean depths are less fickle. Movements and changes in the depths, while constant, are less dependent on the constantly changing stimuli on the surface. So it is with us.
In all of our lives, we are surrounded by a constant barrage of changing surface winds. It is in the depths of our being that He call to us, however. His words can calm the storms on the surface, but it is in the depths of our being that His words truly have power.
It is in our depths that we begin to understand His depths. The depth of his love for us and the depth of His desire to "seek and to save that which was lost."
It is there in the depths that we find His word alive and active in our spirits, changing us, molding us, making us anew. Breaking our hearts so that He can make our heart like His. Renewing our minds so that we may approve those things that are excellent. It is in our depths that we begin to understand His depths. The depth of his love for us and the depth of His desire to "seek and to save that which was lost." This happens as we spend time with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in worship.
In our ministry, we are primarily focused on evangelism and on making disciples among international university students. One thing that I have learned in this ministry is that deep must call unto deep. We do what we can to make our students understand how much we care for them and we try to be active in their lives. We work hard to present the gospel accurately as well as creatively. These things are our part, but it is the Holy Spirit who must meet them where they are and who draws them.
Deep must call unto deep, and each one must make a choice in how they respond. The winds of life can cause waves and torrents that toss us wherever they will, but when we decide to open up our depths to Him, the true Lover of our souls, He can cause His waves to crash over us and to break the parts of us that are hurtful, that are impure, and that cause pain to ourselves and to others.
To you, the reader, I would ask: are you spending time with Him and allowing Him access to your depths? Reach out to Him in truth and in vulnerability. Let His waves crash over you.
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Very well written and his waves can also be calming, and warming, and washing us of those things that might need to be washed away so that his light can shine out. Thank you for your ministry.