Waves happen…so where are you going to sit?  Where you put your butt can mean the difference between a mouthful of sand and a gorgeous day at the seashore.  For instance… let’s say you’re just walking along in life… saying your prayers…doing your best… when…

OR…

I know many times my response has been to think… I trust you God… BUT how could you let this happen?  I feel like God betrayed me…like He didn’t really hear my prayers…like maybe I don’t really matter to Him.

So…once upon a time there was this guy named Dawid.  Dawid is Hebrew for David.  Which…by the way means beloved.  So Beloved seems to have this knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He’s out taking care of his family’s flock of sheep when a lion attacks.

Just when you think one wild animal is enough, a bear comes after Beloved as well.  I don’t know about you but if I was Dawid I’d be ready for God to plunk me around a campfire so I could tell my real life fish stories for the rest of my life.  Seriously!! When is it going to stop?  I mean, Dawid, your god might love you BUT these animals are out to get you!

Dawid’s response is very practical.  After being stalked by wild animals he decides to go after a giant.  Uhhh… Dawid…helloooo?  Seriously…where is that campfire…let me escort you to it!  But nooo… Dawid’s not havin’ that.  It’s like all that trauma has nutted him up! He’s going giant slaying and check out his attitude.  Listen to what he says to the giant… listen carefully to where he puts his “but”.

“…you come against me with sword and spear and javelin, BUT I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45…emphasis mine)

Did you see that?  Watch the difference of word order in these sentences. He didn’t say, “God loves me BUT I have this problem.”  He says, “I have this problem, BUT God is the one to fix it.”

Remember… God always has the last say. This same crazy Beloved guy went on to later exclaim,”The Lord did it!…He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).

We all have problems… one of mine right now is needing a paying job.  Lately there have been times where I have been sucked into thinking, God is good, but I need money!  But upon waking this morning He reminded me about a better way to phrase my situation…I may need a paying job, BUT God… has a break through.

Let’s race to the seaside where He stands.  There He is!  Look!  His arms are stretched out towards us.  The crashing waves are turning back…and will you look at all the seashells?  So that’s why He called us to the ocean….