As a child, I loved playing in ocean waves—ducking under and jumping over them brought me joy and a sense of freedom. As an adult, that same thrill remains, but a few years ago, one beach visit reminded me how powerful and humbling those waves can be.
When the Waves Hit Hard
Living overseas gave me the chance to visit a new beach. Eagerly, I stepped into the waves, laughing as I ducked beneath each swell. I let them lift and push me, caught in the rhythm of the sea—until I wasn’t. One badly timed jump changed everything. A massive wave hit, and suddenly I was tumbling, scraped across the sea floor, gasping for air and fighting panic. My carefree play had turned into a battle.
Faith That Gets Tossed
As I stumbled back to shore, heart pounding and body aching, a verse from childhood came to mind:
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6
James may not have been talking about oceans, but he understood waves. His imagery resonated with me deeply, especially as a woman walking through recovery from sexual betrayal.
Waves of fear, sadness, and uncertainty come relentlessly. One moment I feel hopeful, the next I’m doubting everything—my marriage, my spouse’s healing, even God’s goodness. That’s what double-mindedness looks like: faith that rises and falls with circumstances. When things feel connected, I trust God’s promises. When they don’t, I question everything.
But James is clear—being tossed around by life’s waves isn’t what God wants for us.
When Movement Isn’t Progress
Interestingly, ocean waves move, but the water molecules don’t. As HowStuffWorks explains, waves are “traveling fluctuations” created by energy passed from molecule to molecule. The water itself stays put. In the same way, when we let doubt control us, we feel movement, but we’re stuck. Tears and pain are valid, but they alone don’t move us toward healing.
So what does?
Standing on Solid Ground
God’s promises aren’t conditional on our circumstances:
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“All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).
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“I have plans to prosper you and not harm you” (Jeremiah 29:11).
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“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6).
These are not clichés—they are anchors. But let’s be honest: quoting scripture is easier than trusting it in the middle of pain. Betrayal crashes in like a wave—unexpected and suffocating. It takes intentional faith to stand firm.
Believing God, Not Just in God
James’ words call us deeper: believing in God is not the same as believing God. I can believe He exists and still doubt He sees me. Or I can believe His Word:
“I am chosen” (Ephesians 1:3-8),
“He is working all things for my good” (Romans 8:28).
That kind of belief doesn’t just acknowledge that God can—it rests in the truth that He will.
Choosing a Singular Hope
As I journey through healing, I long for the serene life Proverbs promises, at least within my thoughts and emotions. The wave of betrayal is brutal, and double-mindedness is exhausting. But I’ve seen God prove faithful too many times to keep wavering.
When doubt rises, I’m learning to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), and when fear wants to win, I remind myself:
“God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
I don’t want to be tossed anymore. I want to be steady—anchored. That starts with choosing a singular hope in God.
Traveling in Hope,
