“The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:5 (NIV)
There’s something about visiting a beach that’s naturally inspiring. Standing where water and land meet, with the sky above, feels wide open with possibilities. On a beach, it’s clear that the Creator has put a wise design in place. I look forward to enjoying beaches when I can, especially during the summer. How about you?
Psalm 95:5 reminds you that a beach isn’t random. The sea is God’s because he made it. The land is God’s because he shaped it with his hands. God himself created and cares for the beaches that so many people enjoy.
As you walk along the seashore, you start to feel how big the beach is. The ocean stretches far beyond what your eyes can see. Even if you stared at it for hours, you still wouldn’t find the end of it. The sand goes on and on, as well. You could try to count all the grains of sand under your feet, and there are so many that you’d never finish. When the sky meets the water at the horizon, everything around you seems so big that you feel incredibly small.
But the Creator who made everything you see at a beach – the sea, the land, and the sky – also made you. God created you with the same loving care. Just like God watches over the ocean and keeps it in place, he watches over your life. Walking on a beach can powerfully remind you that you’re in God’s hands.
Sometimes, stress washes over you like waves that are strong and unpredictable. Problems hit you one after another, and you feel like you’re standing at the edge of something too big for you to handle. But just like the sea has a limit it can’t cross, God holds the boundary lines of your life. God doesn’t let any problem come into your life without a purpose.
God also walks closely beside you. You can count on God to be right there with you in all circumstances. He will be with you when the beach of your life is stormy, as well as when it’s calm and sunny. When waves crash over you, God will keep you safe as you trust him. When conditions are good enough for swimming, God will celebrate with you. No matter what, you can find strength and joy in connecting with God’s presence with you.
If you need fresh encouragement that God has shaped your life with intention, visit a beach and think about Psalm 95:5. You aren’t an accident; you’re an important part of God’s design. Just like the sea and land belong to God, so do you. As you stand on the beach and look out at the water that goes on as far as you can see, remember that there’s much more than what you can see, but God can see it and manage it all with his loving power.
Just like the sea and the land are exactly where they’re supposed to be right now in God’s plan, you can make sure that you’re where you’re supposed to be by trusting God to guide you there while you walk with him. Just like a beach is beautiful in awe-inspiring ways, you are too. You’re loved by the same Creator who made the sea and formed the land!
Let’s pray:
Dear God, thank you for the beauty of the ocean and the inspiration I feel when I’m near it. Thank you for the land beneath my feet and the sky above me. Everything around me shows me how wonderful you are. When I feel small, please remind me that you see me and love me. When life feels too big to handle, help me trust that you are even bigger. You made the sea, you formed the land, and you created me. Sometimes I forget how close you really are. But I want to walk with you, so help me sense your presence with me. I trust you as your hands hold everything together in my life and in the world. Thank you, God, for your loving care that never ends. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ben White
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 23 May 2025.
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