Are You a Wave Runner?

Almost every day I drive across the lake to get to my home. The view is almost breathtaking. I can’t imagine that I will ever get tired of it. It is so peaceful. Scattered across the lake you will find sailboats, fishing boats, pontoon boats, house boats and every once in a while you will see a wave runner jumping from wave to wave. Recently I have been like that wave runner.

James 1:5-8 (NIV)
5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Have you ever asked God for wisdom on something you have been asked to do and He gave you the answer, but then you doubted it or tried to justify why you shouldn’t? Or maybe you kept all your options open in case you decide not to do it.

Recently, I was asked to do something that I knew was in God’s will, but was such a fear of mine. I prayed about it and was hoping that God would say, “No, it is not the time.” One minute I would say I was going to do it and the next minute I would change my mind. How could God possibly want someone like me to do this? This was certainly not my gift. If anything, it was my biggest fear. I kept searching for a way to get out of it…kind of like Jonah. Until a friend said to me, “It all comes down to obedience. You either obey God or disobey God on this.” Wow! That was a pretty strong statement. Not really what I wanted to hear.

You see a doubtful mind is not completely convinced that God’s way is best. God’s Word like any human advice can be rejected or disobeyed. Waves are restless based on different environmental factors such as wind, gravity, and tide. Doubt leaves a person as unsettled as a tossed about wave.

I also love The Message version of this passage:

James 1:2-8 (The Message)
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Prayer:
Lord,
Help me not to be like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. I don’t want to waiver back and forth in everything that I do. Lord, if this is what you want me to do, then may you give me the power and strength to do it and may you get all the glory.