It’s time for the beach! Would you visit one that is popular, beautiful or colorful? Take this quiz to help you decide.

Are you interested in a popular beach? Then selecting Huntington Beach or Panama City Beach will do the trick. Tied for #1 in popularity, both beaches boast annual visits of 19 million people.

You can’t go wrong with any of these beautiful beaches. However, Hanalei Bay tops the list. If you haven’t been there, you may have seen it as the setting for the movies South Pacific and The Descendants. Lush, jade colored mountains are a backdrop to its turquoise waters and white sands.

If you chose any of the sand colors above you are in luck! Visit California to find purple or even chocolate sand. Head to Florida for pink sands. Don’t miss Hawaii! It hosts not only black, orange and red beaches, but has one of the four rare green beaches found worldwide.

Hanalei Bay

How can we enjoy our time at the beach? Do we walk along the beach barely getting our toes wet as the waves wash over our feet? Perhaps we wade into the ocean up to our knees. Yet the best times are when we boldly dive into the depths submerging ourselves in the pleasures of the ocean.

Whichever way we enjoy our beach time,
It’s similar to
our relationship with Jesus.

WAVES OVER TOES

As we walk along the beach allowing waves to wash over our toes, we may be uncertain whether to venture further into the ocean. Why? Perhaps it’s the unknown. Who knows what we may encounter in the water, right? So, how are waves over our toes like our relationship with Jesus? It’s like walking timidly with Jesus uncertain of whether to venture into a deeper relationship with Him. And if we do, what will we encounter?

Even when we are uncertain, Jesus isn’t. He knows our future and the loving plans He has for us. In faith, we can trust Him even when we can’t see what we will encounter.

For we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7

SHALLOW WADING

Have you ever waded up to your knees in the ocean? The strength of the waves drives us back and forth as our stance waivers in the shifting sand, doesn’t it? When our desire for a deeper relationship with Jesus pulls against our desire for the things of this world, our faith may waiver. To remain standing in faith may be a struggle with the shifting sands of indecision underneath our feet.

But let him ask in faith,
with no doubting,
for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea
driven and tossed by the wind,
James 1:6

Let me encourage you to make the decision to stand in faith. The Lord loves us and wants to give us the desires of our hearts. When by faith we trust in Him, we will be rewarded.

And whatever you ask in prayer,
trusting, you shall receive,
Matthew 21:22

DIVE IN

Isn’t diving into the ocean refreshing on a hot day? And what do we see? In the clear water, we can see the beauty of life underwater. How about our relationship with Jesus? When we boldly dive into a relationship with Jesus, we will see the beauty of life with Him. Diving into a relationship is fully committing to Him by faith as we trust Him to guide us in all areas of our lives. And as the problems we face heat up? Just like diving into the ocean, with Him we find refreshment from the heat of problems.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones,
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV

REFLECTION

Do you need refreshment?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write Proverbs 3:5-8 and say it aloud, guide me into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Grow my faith to find the refreshment and peace You long to give me. In Jesus name. Amen.

IN FAITH, DIVE INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

May your day be filled with love and laughter,

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/FOOTNOTES

1 travelandleisure.com
2 newsweek.com
3 onlyinyourstate.com
Photo Hanalei, Jason Weingardt