The first night I moved to Hawaii, I went to the beach. I laid down on the shore and just listened to the waves pouring into the beach. One wave would crash after another and the gentle rhythm soon had me in a tranquil rest.

The contrary part of that same ocean lies beneath the shoreline with mighty power.

One of the things my grandpa told me over and over before I moved was to be careful of the ocean on the North Shore. “It is so strong.”

Of course, I listened. When you see warning signs posted on the beach to stay clear of the water, you stay clear of the water.

The water at that time of the year has a very strong pull. On this particular beach, there are huge shore breaks or areas the beach drops off. When the water is not covering them you can see the huge walls that lie below the water’s edge.

Where the shore drops the water tumbles in a circle. If you are unfamiliar with it, think of it like a sideways washing machine. Turning over in the same spot.

This particular day, I had stayed clear, I thought. In fact, I was sitting on the beach. Not in the water but at the edge. A wave came in a little further than the last and picked me up and pulled me right into its mighty grip.

I found myself being pulled in and turned over in the water. In fact, it took someone to literally pull me out of the water and to the shore to get out of it. It was so strong; I could not stand up under its force.

Psalm 93:4 says, Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!

I can tell you first hand, I have experienced the mighty waves of the sea. I have seen it’s majestic 20+ foot waves.

My life was at stake with its mighty power but this verse in Psalm tells us God is mightier!

One day Jesus was preaching to a crowd (This passage can be found in Mark 4). It was getting late and He decided that He and His disciples would go to the other side of the sea. While they were crossing the sea, Jesus fell asleep in the stern of the boat.

A violent storm came upon them and the disciples started to panic while Jesus remained sleeping. Their boat began filling with water and they thought they were going to drown. They woke Jesus up shouting, “Don’t you care that we are dying?”

I love this next part because Jesus doesn’t immediately rebuke them. He rebukes the wind and the sea.

He quiets the wind. He quiets the water. Before He begins to quiet their hearts.

“Who is this?” The disciples ask themselves. “Even the wind and the waves obey Him?”

We often think things are so out of control and we wonder if God even cares?

Does He even notice?

We think He must be so tied up in X, Y, Z that He doesn’t have time to take care of me.

And we panic. Just like I did when I was being tossed in the ocean. Not knowing if I would get out of the water. I was submerged in my problem and all I could do was think to survive. Oh, how so many times we resort to this.

Instead of remaining tranquil in God’s truth, we drown in our own problems just looking for a way out instead of the real rescue. 

How often do we rest in God allowing Him to control the storm around us while walking us through it?

Don’t get me wrong, I know our lives are real and our lives are hard. If only we would cling to God’s Truth and Word, like this story of Jesus calming the sea.

It is not just a story about how Jesus can calm our raging hearts. It speaks truth to the fact that He can control the very air we breathe and the waters that seem to be overtaking us. He attests to the fact that He can take care of every detail of our lives if we let Him.

Here’s the kicker. When I was living in my Hawaiian Paradise, I was living for myself. I was there on a mission to be me. Far from God and any plans, He may have had for my life.

What mercy God showed me that day. Allowing me to be pulled from the water. Allowing me to one day be restored. Allowing me to serve Him and tell of all His goodness.

Now that is the power of a mighty Lord. 
Knowing and taking charge of the details of my life.

Do you have any stories of how God has shown up in your life in a mighty way? Come along side of us and encourage us with your stories. Share with us in the comments below. We love to hear from you and are encouraged by what God is doing in your life.

Also, if you are encouraged by this and other articles you read here, could you please share this with your friends and family. I would love for them to join us.

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This week’s featured friend is Julie Loos from Unmasking the Mess! Here is Julie Bio Info. Writer, Jesus follower, wife,and mother to five incredible kids. I make messes, get dropped into messes,and am just plain messy. I need God’s help minute by minute. Don’t you just love it? This is what real stuff is made of. Messes, but through it all, we need Jesus! Thanks so much for joining us here, friend!

There is a wonderful person in my life, whom I love dearly, that I typically steer clear of conversations that revolve around politics. Not that the conversations are bad, let’s just say they get very passionate.

Being an Iowan, we get a barrage of political campaigning in our state. Being the first state to caucus, politicians and political campaigns are unavoidable.   

I cannot say my favorite topic of conversation is politics. I do believe we need to do our part. Living in a nation where we are given the right and freedom to vote, we need to exercise that right. We can’t sit by and watch the world go round, God gave us a voice and reason and we need to use it.

After having a conversation, initially about whether or not it was going to snow here, I began reading for my Bible study. What was revealed to me is nothing short of amazing. Let’s just say God is good and knows what He is doing.

So, I begin to plow through this chapter. Chapter 1 of Ephesians. Verses 19-23. God reveals himself in this way (not just to me, to all of us!).

I was so excited with this reminder of our great Hope in Christ, I had to text this dearly beloved person, to encourage him with God’s Word. Later we got to sit down and have this amazing conversation about God as we read through this passage. I thank God for His goodness and divine timing. 

We have an option, we can stress about politics or as believers, we can trust Christ as the final authority.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else–not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. 

Ephesians 1:19-23

These verses are packed with God’s great glory. Verse 19 starts with Paul saying that he was praying the people would understand the incredible greatness of God’s power. He reminds us, this power rose Christ from the grave and seated Him in a place of honor at the right hand of God.

Verse 21, tells us now, He is above ALL authority. Reminding us when Christ was lifted up, it was to the highest authority. Authority, far above or high above any ruler, authority, power, leader, or anything else.

So, while I believe we must exercise our right to vote. I believe we can go to the voting booth with confidence that Christ is the Authority over whomever the next elected officials will be.

Even if they do not act in accordance with God’s Word, we can be assured God has dominion over them.

I love the end of verse 23 when we are reminded that it is Christ who fills ALL things everywhere with His glory, ALL things by Himself.  

What an amazing opportunity to thank God for His great glory and power forever. Amen!