I grew up visiting my grandparents in Maine every summer. And the highlight of our visits was going to the ocean. My mom grew up in Maine and she instilled in me her love for its rock-bound coast. As a kid, I loved to play in the waves, climb around on the rocks and find treasures in the sand. I still love the sound of waves breaking on the shore and the feel of the salt spray on my skin (even though it’s sticky). But there was one thing I really disliked. And that was the smell at low tide. It smelled like dead fish and rotting seaweed to me. I found it repugnant even as a small child. And I think that distaste affected my desire to eat seafood. I’ve never been a big fan.
So, you may ask, “what’s your point?”
My point is that low tides happen. They are a vital part of the life of the ocean just as high tides are. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. It is a cycle caused by the moon’s gravitational pull, the sun and the rotation of the earth. And both tides work together for the overall health of the ocean.
My opinion of low tides has always been negative because I didn’t like the smell. But low tides can have good qualities. The lower water level can expose areas for more convenient study, not only by scientists but also by treasure seekers. The low tide produces tide pools for fascinating exploration (especially for a little girl and her uncle). And at low tide the waves are generally smaller and break further from the shore making a calmer environment for walks on the beach.
My opinion of high tides was more favorable since I loved to play in the waves. High tides produce higher water levels and generally bigger waves. The energy of those waves moves sediment and debris around for a kind of cleansing effect. The deeper water enables boats to navigate in areas they cannot when the tide is low. And the movement of the current toward land brings fish closer to the shore for the fishermen.
On the other hand, low tide smells and sometimes strands marine life on shore. And high tides can flood coastal regions during storms. So, we can see that both high tides and low tides have good qualities and bad. One is not all good nor the other all bad.
I think of life like the ocean. Our lives are never static. They are constantly ebbing and flowing just like the ocean. And even when our lives are calm, there can be a lot going on under the surface. Storms can happen that totally shake up the routine and in extreme circumstances, cause devastating results. But somehow, in time the ocean recovers and so can we. And like the ocean, our lives have tides. High tides when the good times flow in, and low tides when the good times fade away. Both are part of the cycle of living.
Generally, people want high tides in life. They want good times flooding in and bringing them a wealth of happiness. High tides are usually perceived as prosperous. But remember that prosperity is not limited to material abundance. We can be prosperous in many facets of our lives. And in fact, God says that He wants us to prosper and be in health. (3 John 1:2) So, it’s easy to see why high tides may seem preferable.
But as life goes on, low tides come. The good times fade away and take our happiness with them. Life becomes challenging. Suddenly, we may feel disheartened or downtrodden. Our outlook may be at a low ebb. We may feel that our prosperity is being washed away like the sand. There is no doubt that these times can be hard, but how we handle them can make a difference
Just like the tides in the ocean, the high tides and the low tides of our lives both have good qualities and bad. One is not all good nor the other all bad.
The high tides of life might bring us happiness, but can also lead to complacency or worse, arrogance. When things are going well in our lives, we might take it for granted. Or we may think that WE are hot-shots because our lives are so good. We might forget to be thankful. Or worse, we may forget Him, who is the source of true abundance, who is God.
Life’s low tides can present us with challenges. We may feel defeated and discouraged. We may wonder why this is happening to us. But challenges can be conquered. And what is more satisfying than beating the odds?
Just like the ocean, tides are part of our lives. However, in contrast to the ocean, the tides in life are not on a predictable timetable. It seems that the low tides catch us off guard oftentimes. For that reason, we may get knocked off our feet. But, if that happens, we cannot stay down. If we do, we will assure our defeat. If we get up, we give ourselves at least a chance to succeed. God will not and cannot overstep our free will. So, if we choose to stay down, we bind God’s helping hands.
In addition, I have been knocked down on numerous occasions by the strong waves of the ocean’s high tide. So, it isn’t just being startled by the arrival of a low tide in our life that throws us for a loop. Life’s high tides can trick us and cause us to fall as well.
One way to overcome adversity is to not focus on the problem but focus on the deliverance. When we do this regularly, we build a habit pattern of success in our lives. This doesn’t mean that we will always have high tides. It means that we can enjoy the high tides, and we will be able to confidently manage the low tides when they come. And a way to keep our focus on the deliverance is to keep our thinking positive. For instance, instead of always thinking that low tides are stinky, I could think about the fun I had with my uncle exploring the tide pools. And doing that would help me embrace the low tide instead of dreading it. My attitude doesn’t change the low tide, but it does change my opinion. And that enables me to recognize and focus on the positive rather than being distracted by the negative.
Of course, the best way to affect change in our minds is to have our thoughts in alignment and harmony with God’s Word. When we do that, we are putting our reliance on the truth that the Bible declares. When we believe God’s Word, we can receive God’s solutions.
Now as previously stated, neither low tides nor high tides are all good nor all bad. There is good and bad in each. So, no matter if we’re in the high tide cycle or the low tide cycle, we can always have God’s blessings. And whatever cycle we’re in, we still need God’s guidance and support so that we can be or stay more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) We never want to fall into the trap of the pleasures of this world, nor do we want to succumb to its pressures. We can be blessed in low tides and high tides because God can give us quiet seas. There is an old saying, “The greatest cargoes of life come in over quiet seas.”
So, why not embrace the high tides and the low tides. Look for the good in each and allow God to provide all that He promised us.
2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Get or keep yourself in the habit of positive confession. For, “confession of belief yields receipt of confession.” Look for the good and bypass the bad. Put your trust in God. Forget about the smelly stuff and reach for the blessings!
Note to my readers: I pray for many happy tides in your life. Thanks for reading.