Danger: Beware Of The Undertow

I love the beach. To me, there is nothing more peaceful and serene as an early morning or late evening walk along the beach, listening for God’s voice in the sound of the waves. At times the gigantic waves powerfully pound the shore relentlessly. While other times, the waves gently drench the sand with unique shells, and other creatures that have been collected from the return trip. The beauty of God’s creation is breathtaking.

If you’ve ever walked along a beach, at some point you may have observed a warning sign indicating undertow, or undercurrents.

Undertow has been defined as the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking upon the shore. An underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent.

At a certain time of the day you may have witnessed the power and strength of high tide, and noted the enormous waves that come crashing in, or low tide when calmness seems to prevail. High and low tides refer to the regular rise and fall of the ocean’s waters.

The process of grief has often been compared to waves, ocean tides that come and go, your emotions that go up and down. In the beginning you feel you are drowning in despair, searching frantically for anything you can hold on to. For days, even weeks, or sometimes months, you can do little more than float. You ride the ebb and flow of a process that you have little to no understanding of, that has completely removed you from your comfort zone.

Initially, the waves of sorrow are high tide with giant swelling waves that aim to drown you, crushing you and often dragging you under the currents of violent force. It seems as though it will never end. Continual waves that won’t even allow you to catch your breath.

As time goes on, you reach a point that you feel you are finally able to breathe, but you sit in solitude with a feeling that part of you was taken away with the wave.

It is often easy to recognize the big waves. You see them coming, and are very aware of them. You take adequate precautions to minimize any damage, and brace yourself. But what about the undertow? Dealing with what you can see is much easier than dealing with what you can’t see. What about that which you didn’t see coming? What about that underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent? 

The undertow is the part that you didn’t see coming. The part that sneaks up on you without warning and it feels as if the air is being literally, sucked from your lungs. The part that undermines your balance and sweeps your feet out from under you. The undertow is very deceptive and unpredictable. 

It may be early morning, or it may be late night, when suddenly, without notice, a song, a word, a color, an image, a memory, or something you didn’t even recognize triggers your emotions, and you find yourself seated on the sand, flattened by a wave, that you were totally unprepared for.

One of the most important things to learn in the grieving process is how to deal with the undertow.

Early Preparation
Since we are dealing with something we can’t see, and is totally unpredictable, it’s important to spend time in preparation. Schedule a daily devotional time, and study the principles and promises of God’s Word. Make your devotional time a dialogue, rather than just a monologue. This will build a foundation for the unforeseen and the unpredictable, a foundation established on a solid rock. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Stay Calm
Don’t panic when you’re taken down. Take time to breathe. If necessary, excuse yourself for a few minutes, and just breathe. Research has shown that taking a few deep breaths has tremendous benefits, physically and emotionally, when caught in a stressful situation.
Psalm 61:3-4 (MSG) — God, You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all, a lifetime pass to Your safe-house, an open invitation as Your guest.

Give Grace
Don’t beat yourself up when you’re caught off guard. God is extending His grace, so give yourself some grace. A rip current won’t pull you underwater, it’ll just pull you away from shore. Just because you’re down, you’re not out. Remember, this is a process, and not a destination. Jesus  said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

It has been said, “Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”

When you feel like you’re drowning, always remember, your lifeguard walks on water.

Don’t allow a rogue wave to rip you apart.

You are created to be an overcomer of the undertow. 

I still get knocked down, but I still get back up, and I’m . . .
Still Believing!