Girl on Beach – Part II
Last week, I asked you to share what this photo meant to you. Thank you for your responses. Today, I want to share my thoughts.
Out of the thousands and thousands of photos I’ve taken, this is one of my top ten.
There is probably nothing technically special about it, but the image speaks to my heart in a way many pictures do not. And even as I say that I have a hard time putting into words just what it says to me.
I didn’t know the young girl in the photo. I have no idea what was running through her mind as she stood on the beach that gray blustery morning. She may have been disappointed. I imagine the days leading up to the family vacation. They probably talked excitedly of sun-filled hours of playing in the water and building sandcastles as they dried off.
Only this morning the weather had other ideas.
What must she be thinking?
I believe it was hope.
The photo reminds me of the hope we have in God.
I don’t know what your life expectations are. I don’t know if you are experiencing what you expected in life or if things seem to have gone terribly off course. Maybe you thought you would have a certain romantic relationship, job, friendship, or overall life experience. Then, life had other ideas.
Here’s the hope I’m reminded of by this week’s photo.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)
Paul wrote these words as he encouraged other believers to turn their focus from the troubles of the present to the glory of the future. He recognized that God chose to put the treasure of His light into jars of clay (v. 7). Those jars of clay are you and me. We have been fashioned by the hands of God. We may be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But we are not crushed, left in despair, abandoned, or destroyed. (vv. 8-9).
We have the greatest hope of all. An eternity with God, worshiping and serving Him forever. Our troubles are but short blips in eternity. Let’s focus on the eternal.
That small child, all bundled up in her yellow rain slicker, probably knew those gray cloudy skies would only be around for a while. The sun would eventually return to brighten her vacation days.
May we have a similar hope in a future far greater than our temporary days on earth.
Girl on Beach – Part II #hope #joy #writingcommunity Share on XToday’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
Last week I stared at the pic of the girl on the beach and nothing came to my mind but this week is a different week. I am 1 week out from my knee replacement surgery. This picture sums up 2 huge things for me. 1) healing from this painful surgery really is a solitary event even with the prayers of many and the help of a friend, it is still a solitary journey due to the pain, limitations in movement and all I can do is look out across that vast ocean knowing that there is land out there in the distance. Even though I can not see it I know that other countries are across that vast expanse of lonely looking water. It may be grey and gloomy looking during the recovery process I still know there is blue sky and sun above all of the dull sky I can see. 2) This picture is a picture of a longing, deep longing of one day once again being the girl who can walk on the sand of that beach. No matter the weather, just physically being able to talk a walk on a sandy beach will be the reward for this painful recovery. I hope she is smiling as she looks across the water despite the storm around her.
First, let me say I have been praying for your surgery and recovery. I know this must have been and will be a long road, difficult to travel. Second, I love what you see in the photograph. All of my posts are intended to give us hope. You are a shining example of someone who has hope and is willing to do the work to realize the hope you have. I believe your knee condition and its replacement is a great metaphor for the hope we have in Jesus. We can’t see the future but we know because He tells us that no matter our situation, things are going to be better–much better. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thank you Tim for your encouragement As I reply to your comment I am 3 weeks post-op and doing so well that I know it is because God’s hand is in my healing and recovery. Thank you for the prayers.
What an encouraging way of looking at the picture! It might be gloomy today, but tomorrow? We shall see…. hope.
Great Post!
Thank you Jane. If only I were more like the girl I imagined in the photo. 🙂
Thank you for the great post and the encouragement, Tim!
You are welcome Joni.