Stand
I grew up going to the beach. My Grandfather was a WWII purple heart vet who was very good with money. At one point, he had 3 rental houses on Flagler Beach just north of Daytona, FL. About the time I was in middle school, he sold the houses and we began to vacation in Sandestin. If you know Florida, you know that those beaches are very different. The Atlantic sand is like shell and a lot more coarse, while the sand on the Gulf side is like sugar.
Obviously, I have many memories of being little and playing in the sand. Those memories always are of the coarse sand on the Atlantic side. I thought about this the other day; why do I not have many 'childhood' memories of the Gulf sand? I have zero. Then I realized something - all of my epic wave interaction memories are in the Gulf. (I know it seems backwards. I should have enjoyed the nicer waves in the Atlantic and nicer sand in the Gulf, but that isn't the case for me.)
As a middle schooler I didn't spend much time on the beach. I was always in the water, and there is a very specific feeling that, if you have never felt it, you are missing out. Do you remember that moment when you were looking back at the shore and a wave hit you mid-back? That feeling! That noise! These are the memories I have of playing at the beach in middle school. I would be loving the waves and enjoying the power, stand up and look at the shore and then . . . SLAP! For that brief moment I was in awe of that feeling, that noise, that realization of the power of those waves! (Those 3ft waves! Ha!)
James, who was the half brother of Jesus, has a warning about our faith and relates it to waves.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
James is saying that FAITH isn't like waves. I completely understand and the Spirit has used this concept multiple times in my life, but I want a strong faith and those waves are relentless! Waves are consistent; shouldn't I want a consistent faith? But that is my finite mind trying to rationalize things. Waves, even though very powerful, are moved by the simplest of breezes. Thus, they are fickle and inconsistent. So, if this is what my faith isn't supposed to look like, then what should it look like?
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
See a pattern? It's not the winds. I envision a rock or boulder that is STANDING FIRM and IMMOVABLE! I think that is the picture of consistency that I hope my faith is, but, I'm still processing the waves.
Any scientist on the planet would tell you that water is the most destructive force on Earth. We all have seen giant boulders that have been craved up by water. And that's when it hit me...
James is speaking of these waves and wind in the context of trials and struggles. Doubt. Do you doubt? What would the world look like without doubt? Would the absence of doubt make faith too easy? Isn't this what James is talking about when he says;
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
You see, waves and wind FORM boulders. The boulders exist, standing out in the sand like monuments, because of the wind and waves they have endured. The fickleness of this world and our flesh isn't where our faith lies, but these forces shape in us a stronger, more immovable, firmer faith.
Think about your faith right now and imagine it as an immovable object. Then, process all of the crazy things of life (3 kids, moving, starting a church, $$$) and imagine those things moving like the wind and waves. God gets that life is inconsistent. God understands that life has winds and waves. That's why He tells us to stand firm in faith. Faith is God's gift for us as we encounter those things that are inconsistent. When we see those crazy life things coming, we can stand firm in our faith and then we can enjoy the waves!