Beyond understanding

Ahh, one of the things I love most about this place is daily having the joy (and cool refreshment) of being able to see the sea. I must say that it is a monster - a massive, unpredictable, and beautiful monster. I often find myself walking along the cliffside (there's guardrails, no worries) to the long sandy beach of Portstewart at night, where I find myself alone and cold but perfectly at peace. In awe of stars and a roaring ocean. These are often good times for a John Piper podcast to play into my ears, not often leaving me less confused about this world and God's extreme power and majesty, but certainly more confortable with my own unknowing. When on the beach at night you can stare out into the ocean and it is all so dark you can only see the first few waves, then everything blends into blackness. Last night there were flashes of light, I don't know whether they were fireworks (fireworks seem to be a hallowe'en event here) or lightning, but every few moments I could get a glimpse of the sea, and it's black, never-ending size. There are times when it is choppy and times when it is somewhat calm, there are even times when the waves will get to be over 10 feet, but last night I swear the sea was rolling. Giant waves like mountains rising and falling far out in the ocean's blackness. And my skin crawls with fear at this overhwhelming realisation of my own size and weakness. I imagine myself on a boat, fighting to stay afloat, rising and falling with the rolling mountains. Trying even to stay on my feet. Then my mind wanders further again and I remember just a few words, hardly louder than the wind and crashing waves. "Quiet. Be still!". And I am reminded that it was God who crafted the sea and it is Him who commands it, and I should have no fear. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
Of all the majestic things to know of God. To study His sovereignty or His perfect will and the role of Evil and suffering. To read from wise dead men and to explore their knowledge to adopt it - I have continually found that it is the things you think are simple that actually bring you to your knees in praise, without any option or desire to do otherwise. Standing on the shore of the most powerful element in this world and knowing it has not one bit of power over my God who loves me, is a peacefully breath-taking thought. And knowing and grasping that it is true, and living in a way that exclaims that truth... I suppose that is the journey I am on. I am having to cope with the fact that God is far beyond anything my mind can handle, that what I find fascinating and miraculous about God is likely only the beginning, and that above all He loves and cares for me. For us. We are blessed, and all He asks for is faith. Faith in love and praise. We are to undergo trials and tribulations, but stand firm in joy and a peace beyond understanding.