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Today we welcome Lynette McCombs as our guest. Her bio is included at the end of her story.

“The Lord gives strength to his people,
and the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11(NIV)

Beachcombing

As an avid scuba diver, if I cannot be in the ocean, then I want to be by the ocean. Beachcombing is a favorite pastime as I walk and talk to the Lord, uninterrupted for hours. Everything “of the sea” has always fascinated me and ocean things have been my favorite collectibles (along with anything flamingo.) So, after the loss of my husband in January 2020, to a difficult pancreatic cancer battle, I sought solace and time with the Lord walking the beach.

It was a grey February day, as I walked and poured my broken heart out to Jesus. I was in the midst of such deep sadness, such devastating loss of my soulmate and best friend of more than thirty-six years. Most of my words were punctuated with guttural sobs of deep grief. The lack of sunshine and coolness of the day brought few people out and I was thankful for a nearly deserted beach. I was disappointed in failing to find any special “treasures and gifts from the Lord” as I call them: unique shells, beach glass, shark’s teeth; but I walked on, lost in thought and emotional pain.

What I Found

As I looked up ahead of me, I noticed something caught in the shallow confines of a tide pool, the ocean’s waves pulling it gently back and forth. As I got closer, in the rippled sand and shallow surf, there was a very sandy towel. No one was here on this deserted section of the beach, so I pulled it out of the water. In amazement, I looked at this brand-new beach towel with a huge flamingo on it. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I recognized this as a special “gift from the Lord” on this particular day when I needed to sense His presence in a special way. Aloud, I said, “Thank You, Lord, this is a special gift specifically for me.” In the silence, I heard His gentle voice speak to my spirit, “…and so is My peace, dear one. You need only to receive it.”

Just like that flamingo towel, sloshing in the surf waiting for me to pick it up, is the peace of God in the middle of our darkest and most desperate days. I could leave it lying on the sand for the next wanderer walking along the surf’s edge, or I could pick it up and carry it with me. The choice was mine as I contemplated the sense of His very real peace at a moment when I needed it so desperately. His peace is always available to us, waiting for us to cry out to Him and ask for a special “gift” directly from His hand to our hearts and minds.

Peace

I chose to accept His peace that day and committed to seeking it as I walked forward in the days to come. I had no idea that COVID and isolation and quarantine would soon invade life for all of us and that His peace would be needed more than I could ever imagine. That beach towel still hangs on my bedroom door, a daily reminder that His peace is a priceless gift that I can pick up every single day as I walk forward in faith, trusting Him.

Lord Jesus, help me hold tightly to Your peace, whatever the circumstances of this journey may bring. Remind me that Your peace is a gift readily available to me, and all I need do is receive it. Amen.