We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Cor 13:12 MSG
Record high temperatures for January had everyone breaking out the shorts and flip-flops last week. And living within a 30-minute drive to the beach, of course, we had to go there. If for no other reason than to say we went to the beach in January. The traffic in and out of Wrightsville Beach confirmed that we were not the only ones with thoughts of sand and surf dancing in our heads. The sun shone brightly as we approached the bridge to the beach, but ahead, we could see that it was about to change. It was a sight I had never seen before, at least not at the beach. A thick fog covered the area. I’ve experienced unexpected fog in the mountains, but never like this in the mid-afternoon of a bright and sunny 75-degree day at the beach. It was beautiful and eerie at the same time. A quick Google search enlightened me about sea fog—coastal fog forms when relatively warm, moist air passes over the cool water’s surface, and it is most common in the winter and spring months when the ocean is at its coolest.
It was strange to look from the shore and be able to hear, smell, and feel the ocean but not see it. The many wetsuit-clad surfers didn’t seem to mind that they couldn’t see; they ran expectedly towards the water. In the days since experiencing the sea fog phenomenon, I was struck by how it represents a metaphor for our lives. Whether it’s about my girls and the direction their lives are going or navigating this new season of life in a new place with new people, it all seems kind of foggy. I couldn’t see the ocean clearly, and I can’t see this earthly future. I can imagine it as I imagined the sea that day before the fog lifted. I can pray about and hope for it, but I have no certainty of the daily logistics or even if my imaginary, futuristic picture is correct. Only God knows. And, instead of wearing myself out trying to figure out the details or giving God advice on how He should handle the details, I need to align myself with what the Bible reveals. Just like the surfers, we should run expectedly! Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness daily, if not hourly. Have the trust and confidence that He is there, controlling the fog and the lift. The surfers trusted that the water was within the mist and would pick them up and carry them; the same is true of God. He is there, even in the fog. He will pick us up, and He will carry us; all we have to do is trust Him to do so. “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).
The fog lifted while enjoying a delicious lunch with an ocean view, and the sea’s landscape became visible. Tomorrow may be foggy, but the big picture is crystal clear. As we move forward even in the thickest fogs, earnestly seeking Jesus, trusting Him with the details, and believing He loves and cares for us, the Light will shine through the mist because of His faithfulness. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.