“Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he’s your lord, adore him.” Psalm 45:11 (The Message).

One of my favorite places to contemplate God is by the sea. But I know I can’t appreciate the calm of the ocean, without also acknowledging the wildness in it. It’s a whole entity, I found out. A wild body of both breaking waves and calm expanse. Never has the imagery of the power of God—along with His loving calm, and compassion—been so evident than the time my husband and I went on a cruise. 

Because on our very first excursion we were taken to the rocky beaches of St. Croix. Before stepping onto the sand, though, the tour guide shared some cautionary reminders. 

“Especially,” she said, “Stay away from the rocks. OR you might DIE! Because there’s no one to save you! But ya’all have fun!” Oh. Ok? 

I agree, it’s great to remember that the ocean is a mighty force. Powerful. Sometimes wild. Also, if you think I consider these truths because it decreases the risk that—I might DIE, which would be the opposite of the fun the tour guide mentioned—well, you’d be right.

The mighty wild ocean

Although, when Jerry and I glided into the calm sea, for some odd reason, we threw all the warnings and caution to the wind. We played and splashed and dipped up and down on the small waves. In my wildest dreams, I didn’t think we’d have any problems.

But I was wrong.

By the time Jerry and I realized we’d floated passed the rocks, it was already too late. We’d went too far. And here’s what I know: Jerry and I were having fun, floating, when suddenly (like, in mid-conversation), we were caught in a riptide. A crosscurrent so strong it felt completely intent to carry us out to sea. After that, I know I pray-yelled. Swallowed a ton of salt water. Frantically waved for help to the people standing on the shore…who waved back, thinking I was just a super nice person, apparently. I think it only took a few minutes for my husband’s breath to turn into a silent yell when I understood: Jerry couldn’t save me. I could not save myself. 

Somehow, in some dramatic swirls and salty splashes, Jerry swam diagonally to a rock. He clung, gasping, screaming for me to swim over to him. Then, I had to decide if I wanted to “might” die, or “definitely” die. Ironically, too, the very entity strong enough to take our lives was the solid ground we clung to. After we climbed over what seemed to me a million rocks, we could do nothing but tremble in awe of God’s love for us. We were so amazed. He allowed us to live. 

The Wild Things

When I think about that wild day in the ocean, I remember one of my favorite quotes by Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949. “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” Well, I cannot. The wild things and seasons and wild love of God have grown my faith. Faith isn’t sure footing, we know. It’s not even a well-worn path. The day we fought with the sea, I wrote a reminder in red ink in my journal. Something important I think God wanted me to know: When affliction came, she grew. But she was already loved.

In that moment, I had no idea what it looked like to live already loved. Not to earn, fix, or try so hard to earn love. But I do know and trust my God—so I invited Him to make few changes. Still, I’m learning to be moored by God’s love, tethered so tightly to His work, His hope, and His Word that the changes come. And they have: Wave over wave. Grace upon grace. One grain of sand at a time. But I’m done doggy paddling. This means something for my faith, I think. How God keeps growing me. I know that somedays, I’ll float. Somedays, I won’t need to try not to try so hard.  

So, here’s a wild idea. While we’re in process, what if we do what the Psalmist encourages in Psalm 45: 11 (The MSG)? “Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he’s your lord, adore him.” Experiencing a real and vital relationship with Jesus moves us to the sweetest adoration. 

God is WILD About YOU! 

This Psalm reminder makes me more determined to understand how fully I can trust everything He is, everything He does, everything He says. With such extreme sacrifice from Him—His love cannot be earned, only reciprocated. It is a wild love from a God who is wild about you. Isn’t it wild that without merit or effort, we are invited to be deeply grounded in the love of God. 

And I can’t help myself. Of course, I love the imagery used in Micah: “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 (ESV). God is the only One righteous enough or worthy enough to keep us accountable—yet He crushes our sin into dust and tosses it into the deep, deepest sea. Through Jesus, His love has overcome. Your sin exists no more. 

Friends, if you’re like me and struggle to allow God’s great love to buoy you, lift your spirits by praying Psalm 139: 17-18 with me: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” I pray that we’ll live with trust, and hope, loving, loving, loving in this wild season and in the wild love of God. Amen.