EL ROI… THE GOD WHO SEES ME

Be Still in Him

BY LISA HATHAWAY

Life is hard.

Sometimes life gets tiring as it goes on and on, with both good and challenging times. But although the challenges we face can seem to come out of nowhere, God sees you still.

My life has been extremely full lately with my graduate studies in clinical and mental health counseling and three teenage children—including a daughter who just graduated from high school. College preparation is underway for her, and there are so many uncertainties that cause anxiety to rise in my soul.

Recently, as I was preparing to go away for a school board conference by myself at the beach, I was unsettled. I am not used to stopping and “being.” My life is brimming with “doing,” and I find it difficult to take time to be still. I know I have needed to work on that for a long time, but I am a servant by nature, so seeking time just to be still does not come naturally. But God. He saw the end from the beginning and knew I needed time to be still and see Him in ways my soul deeply desired.

Each day, after the conference sessions, I took my chair and sat on the beach. I even ate dinner by myself. I honestly didn’t know what to do. It felt so odd to me. I called my mom on the first night and said, “Mom, this is just so weird. I don’t know what to do being by myself.” Her reply was simple but powerful. She said, “Lisa, allow yourself to be still in Him.”

So, I did just that. I stopped, listened, prayed, and soaked in the presence of God. What I began to recognize was that God knew I craved rest in Him. He saw me, saw my heart, and knew exactly what I needed to take time for.

As I sat on the beach each day, just listening to the waves, God gave me a visual of the vastness of His love and how we can stand firm on His foundation.

In my heart, I saw myself on the shore of the crashing waves. My feet were sinking in the sand with my toes curled so I wouldn’t lose my balance. The pounding waves came crashing in as the water buffeted my legs. Then, with my feet still sunk in the sand and the water flowing back into the ocean, I realized I was still standing.

I was standing firm. I didn’t get knocked down!

This vision was a clear picture of what it means to stand on the firm foundation of God. The storms will tower over us sometimes. They will crash over our hearts and minds. But when they crash in on us, we curl our toes into the foundation and stand strong.

Then, as we watch, our hurts, wounds, sin, shame, storms, and all the enemy has thrown at us are washed back out into the vastness of the ocean. They came in to knock us off balance, but then God. God’s love washes over us and refreshes us.

The ocean is a perfect representation of God’s perfect love—there is NO end to it. All the enemy wants to do to make us fall is washed away as we are covered by God’s love.

When you are in a season of turmoil, I encourage you to stand strong on the firm foundation of Jesus. Even if your feet sink a little bit, the strength of the Lord will sustain you and hold you steadfast. As you stand and even get battered by the crashing waves, lift your head and look out. God is there in the vast ocean, standing right next to you, taking the crashing waves for you.

The God of the Universe sees you. He knows you. And He knows exactly what you need, even when you don’t. Trust His heart. Trust His voice.

Lisa Hathaway resides in Lexington, NC, with her husband, Everett, and their three children. As a special needs mom, breast cancer survivor, and survivor of a tragic car accident, suffering has been intertwined in her story, and she years for others to experience God’s sweetness through their difficulties. Lisa has an MBA and is pursuing her Clinical and Mental Health Counseling degree. She works at The Oaks Therapeutic Community and is an integral part of the WWL leadership team.