The Bay of Fundy, located off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada, is a place like no other. It is home to some of the highest tides in the world.
Many years ago, my husband was asked to be a groomsman in a wedding, so we drove our trusty Toyota Camry over 1,600 miles from Missouri to New Brunswick for the event. The soon-to-be bride and groom took us sightseeing at the Bay of Fundy and helped us buy some Canadian lobster. It was our introduction to a marvelous natural wonder, and we were so captivated that we returned several more times through the years.
From the quiet town of Alma, we watched the changing tides. I took two pictures and placed them side by side in a photo album. One shows the bay at low tide; the other shows it at high tide. It was fascinating to walk a mile across dry ground, knowing that before long, the same area would be covered with water.
Along coastlines other than the Bay of Fundy, tides may not rise and fall quite so dramatically. Yet everywhere, tides follow a predictable pattern that fishermen and sailors can rely on. Organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) even provide tide tables that help people know when the tides will rise and fall.
Life, however, is different.
Life is full of highs and lows, ebbs and flows. But unlike the ocean’s tides, we are not given a timetable for the changing seasons of our lives. When we are born, God does not hand us a schedule outlining what each phase will look like or how long it will last.
Most of us like to make plans. We want to know what is coming next. We ask God what we should do about a particular matter, but we can become anxious when He does not answer as quickly as we would like. When we are going through a trial, we want to know when it will end. When we sense God changing the direction of our ministry or our lives, we want to know exactly when, where, and how His plan will unfold.
But God does not operate according to our timetable. He does not feel obligated to tell us what will happen tomorrow, next week, or next year.
That uncertainty can be frustrating. Yet Proverbs 27:1 reminds us, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (KJV).
Peace comes when we surrender our schedules to God, trust Him with our tomorrows, and enjoy walking with Him today.
People who live along the Bay of Fundy see nature’s changing tides every day. They know that when the tide goes out, it will eventually come back in.
There is an even greater truth we can embrace, no matter where we live.
We cannot predict the tides of our lives, but we can predict the faithfulness of our God.
Hebrews 13:8 assures us: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Life is unpredictable, but God is dependable.
He was with you through every yesterday. He loves you today just as faithfully as He did yesterday. And He will be the same faithful God tomorrow that He is today.
So, when life feels uncertain, keep your eyes on Him. He will guide your steps, steady your heart, and give you peace and rest along the way.
PRAYER: Thank You, Jesus, for reminding me that my future is in Your hands. Through all of life’s highs and lows, You are the One that I can always depend on. Amen.
