“You make me brave, You call me out beyond the shore into the waves”

I used to want bravery before getting into the water. You know, I’d pray something like “God, if you make me brave BEFORE I really need to be, that would be great!” I lived in the “I feel safer if I feel prepared” scenario for years, otherwise known as control and it wasn’t working anymore…

Then while at the beach Boogie boarding, in actual waves, trying to overcome my fear of the ocean I heard Him speak to my heart and say;

“Hey Mimi, the shore is safe, but I didn’t create you to live safe... I have more for you out here in the waves than you could ever know if you’re standing on the shore. It’s in the waves that I make you brave… Trust me, go out a little farther, and see the beauty of what’s waiting” .

I knew this wasn’t really about being in the ocean, but about life…At that very moment a huge wave came. This time instead of panicking, I jumped up like I just won some kind of prize. I found myself leaping up to catch the wave like some kind of crazy sea creature breaching the water in all its glory. I’m almost positive that’s not how it looked in reality. In my black and bright neon green wetsuit that’s exactly how it looked in my mind!

This wasn’t my normal response believe me, I may have started crying or tried my hardest to get back to shore. I had spent so much time afraid of so many things in life that “running back to shore” had become easy. I was so tired of feeling afraid that I just went for it!

It was the most exhilarating, joy filled and down right fun feeling I’d felt in a long time! I looked to my left just as the sun hit the break of the wave. The colors and brilliance took my breath away... I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

All of a sudden I understood better what He’d been speaking to my heart. I would never have known the beauty or the bravery if I was standing on the shore.

One second later I was tumbling underwater rolling like a leaf in the wind. The wave washed over me and I came up, caught my breath and my composure. Realizing I was fine I did one of those giddy excited screams, you know, like little kids let out on Christmas morning when they see a puppy under the tree .

I wasn’t scared anymore, I WAS brave! He had made me brave out IN the waves, not standing on the shore because I trusted Him enough to go out a little further. Believing He would be out there in the waves with me…

So if you find yourself tired of being afraid, and you’ve been asking Him to make you brave. If there’s something that’s taunted and jeered at you like my fear of the ocean used to, and you’ve had enough. If you realize that being in control is really a lie, and you want freedom from fear. Take the hand of Jesus and walk out into the waves of what seems unknown and face that thing with God...He’s trustworthy, He’s good, He has beautiful things waiting on the other side of your obedience...even if you tumble a time or two, it’s totally worth it. .

‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;

Do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;

I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ Isaiah 41:10 Amp