It’s easy to go through this world bracing for impact. And in my case, it’s not like you can externally witness my extended arms and leg bracing for collision, but I certainly am bracing. Internally I more resemble when you’re at the beach in the water and you close your eyes, turn your head and stand ready for the crash of an ocean wave. Blam! But if I know anything, I’m supposed to be more like a sandbar than a retaining wall. Let me share with you how.
Sandbar or Bracing for Impact
A sandbar is influenced by the waves of the ocean but is not rigid like a retaining wall. Crash! A retaining wall is pummeled day in and day out by the waves. Slowly the fibers of the wall are washed away. Though it might take years, the ocean does win. While on the other hand, a sandbar allows the waves to wash over it with little resistance. I know I am supposed to be like a sandbar.
Do we let the cares of this world come in and then roll them back upon the Lord or do we absorb the blows? We were never intended to internalize the blows of this world; we’re to release them immediately back upon Him. He is the buffer for all our pressures.
I had a visual of this earlier today. There were waves coming and crashing on me and instead of raising my head to endure and survive, I bowed my head to pray. It was like the waves were forcing my head down and when it was down, chin to chest, the waves simply rolled off my back, effortlessly.
Bracing for Impact: Retaining Wall of Pride
All my life I have fought or faced the waves rather than yielding in prayer. And what would this be called? PRIDE! The debilitating pride of thinking I could, I should, or I have to be in strength.
I am called to humble myself and rely on the Lord in every situation. Situations are not created to batter me but to weaken me to live in the dependence of God. If I choose to be strong in the face of pressure, the forces of life will collide against me and eventually snap me like a twig. I am called to refract it all back upon Him. He is the only One who can manage and deal with our lives. I am but an instrument of prayer to invite Him in.
Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).
Psalm 55:22 AMPC
Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.
Proverbs 16:3 AMP
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1 Peter 5:7 AMPC
What a lovely gift He has bestowed upon you John, (and us) with your writing. It is poetry. Poetic Truth.
Blessings and Love.
OH John, once again ‘you have hit the nail on the head’ for me “PRIDE”. Love how you highlight other posts so I can go back, re-group and track more wisdom because I don’t yield because I stay ‘in strength’. Bless you for the picture of rolling my works on HIM , because he will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to HIS will’ OH what a promise as is the next scripture of “casting the whole of my care “upon HIM. When I read to the end “for he cares about you watchfully.” is as precious as gold. I… Read more »