Look for the Water Spouts!

June through October is whale season here in South Africa. The Southern Right Whales come near the shore during this season to birth their calves. During the first few months of the visitors passing by local folk would ask me if I saw the whales in the bay. It seemed like everyone was seeing these large creatures of the sea but us.

It was getting a little frustrating to be honest.  Patty and I would make sure to walk near the shore and scan the horizon and just when we thought we spotted one it turned out to be a big brown rock being pounded by the waves.

Until one day we went for a walk and plopped down on a bench with our tuna sandwiches and chips and watched and waited. Mesmerized by the picture perfect scene I thought I saw water spouts shooting up and quickly pointed it out to Patty.  Sure enough we spotted our first group of Southern Rights frolicking in the bay. It was breath taking to watch these behemoths which measure up to 60 feet in length and weigh several tons slide effortlessly with a powerful kick of their gigantic tail.

Since our first sighting I have learned a little about whale watching. I need to stop walking around and just sit and take in the scene. Focusing my eyes on the horizon for a water spout, which doesn’t look like much but indicates something gigantic is about to surface that will take your breathe away.

The whole experience of whale watching has been a good tutorial on how to watch for the ways of God in the midst of the vast unknowns flooding over our world like an endless ocean. We know from Scripture that God is intricately involved in every detail of our lives (see Psalm 139) and that all things work out for our good and His glory to those who know His love (Romans 8:28). But if we are honest it can be really tough to see God in the midst of it all.  Just this morning I talked with a woman who can’t pay the rent because she only works 2 half days a week in a hotel that has been left empty because of the virus. And her story can be multiplied by 1000’s.

What are we to do in the midst of the pandemic, explosive political tensions, and an on slot of spiritual attacks from the father of lies?  Find a spiritual bench, sit your soul down and wait in faith with your eyes focused on the horizon looking for spiritual water spouts.

Remember the well known words of Psalm 46:10:

                                     “Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.                                   I will be honored throughout the world.”

We can rest our anxious souls down and focus on a God who is our “refuge and strength always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble and waters surge! …The nations are in uproar and kingdoms crumble! God thunders and the earth melts! The LORD Almighty us is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress,” (Psalm 46:1-7).

Our Father is out there, keep looking and you will soon see the water spouts and know something gigantic is about to surface and His glorious plan will take your breathe away.