This week I have been blessed to spend a few days on the beaches of Hawaii. Watching Pastor Jason’s message reminded me of this one very important truth: we were chosen. Chosen in love, for a purpose.
I am looking around at all the beauty of this place, and while it feels like paradise on earth, it is not lost on me that everything here took such intention. From all the tropical plants strategically placed and kept up with on the grounds, to the Hawaiian architecture and modern touches throughout the hotels, to pools and fun water slides that require attendants and workers to maintain and run. It all takes a lot of work, a lot of intention and a lot of purpose to create a “paradise” like this.
But as I walked along the beach today I realized that something as beautiful as the ocean and the sand also takes “maintenance” but it’s from a different source — God Himself. He created the ocean. He set the boundaries of the land. He makes the waves move in their familiar rhythm. In God’s response to Job He says it like this:
“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’”
(Job 38:8-11, NLT)
There is intention to everything God does, including His intention with you.
The way He made you, the gifts He placed inside you, even the quirks and things that people have told you aren’t good or desirable…He knew all about them as He formed you in your mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5)
In the secret place, He saw who you were created to be, and He saw who you would become, and still said, “I want that one.”
Have you ever sat to think about this concept? As Pastor Jason put it: “God was already self-sufficient in Himself.” But He does something interesting…He goes out and picks us. He wants to be in relationship with us.
Us…the broken ones.
Sometimes I think about how easy life would’ve been for God if He never created us. It truly would’ve been the “easy way out” because there wouldn’t have been all this pain and suffering that came from the fall of humanity. So this begs the question…why would He choose us anyway?
It had to be love.
It had to be a deep, abiding, love that we can’t even comprehend. It’s one of those “unknowable mysteries” because I think if many of us were given the choice to create or not to create sinful man, we probably would’ve passed on the whole thing. Too much of a headache…too much heartbreak…too much sin…too much brokenness…too much regret.
But we serve a God who can see beyond all the pain, yet He still desires a relationship. That’s how much love He already had in His heart for us. The love was there at the creation of the world. In His eyes, it was better to create and experience pain than to not create at all.
I hope that talking about all of this creates a sacred sense of awe in your heart. A special knowing that He loves you, He chose you…and that you are beloved. Your existence wasn’t necessary for God, but it was wanted…it was thoughtfully desired.
And because He chose you despite the pain and heartache that would come with humanity, and even with your own sinful choices…when you choose Him in return, and allow Him to throw you that buoy in those stormy seas…your choice is all the more impactful. Because you weren’t forced to choose Him…you chose Him because you realized how badly you needed Him. Humility led your heart to a place of surrender.
If you haven’t made that choice yet, I pray that you would, if even for a moment…consider the love and intention that went into His creation of the world…His creation of you.
None of this is an accident. You are not an accident. So dear friend, what is your response? How will you respond to that kind of relentless, chasing after you, kind-of-love? Will you grab the buoy in the stormy seas, or will you shout above the waves, “I’ve got this”…when you really don’t.
I hope you see the beauty in the surrender. The part where you grab onto Him, and can finally breathe again. I hope you get to experience that peace. It’s truly unlike anything else you will ever know on this earth.
I am looking around at all the beauty of this place, and while it feels like paradise on earth, it is not lost on me that everything here took such intention. From all the tropical plants strategically placed and kept up with on the grounds, to the Hawaiian architecture and modern touches throughout the hotels, to pools and fun water slides that require attendants and workers to maintain and run. It all takes a lot of work, a lot of intention and a lot of purpose to create a “paradise” like this.
But as I walked along the beach today I realized that something as beautiful as the ocean and the sand also takes “maintenance” but it’s from a different source — God Himself. He created the ocean. He set the boundaries of the land. He makes the waves move in their familiar rhythm. In God’s response to Job He says it like this:
“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’”
(Job 38:8-11, NLT)
There is intention to everything God does, including His intention with you.
The way He made you, the gifts He placed inside you, even the quirks and things that people have told you aren’t good or desirable…He knew all about them as He formed you in your mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5)
In the secret place, He saw who you were created to be, and He saw who you would become, and still said, “I want that one.”
Have you ever sat to think about this concept? As Pastor Jason put it: “God was already self-sufficient in Himself.” But He does something interesting…He goes out and picks us. He wants to be in relationship with us.
Us…the broken ones.
Sometimes I think about how easy life would’ve been for God if He never created us. It truly would’ve been the “easy way out” because there wouldn’t have been all this pain and suffering that came from the fall of humanity. So this begs the question…why would He choose us anyway?
It had to be love.
It had to be a deep, abiding, love that we can’t even comprehend. It’s one of those “unknowable mysteries” because I think if many of us were given the choice to create or not to create sinful man, we probably would’ve passed on the whole thing. Too much of a headache…too much heartbreak…too much sin…too much brokenness…too much regret.
But we serve a God who can see beyond all the pain, yet He still desires a relationship. That’s how much love He already had in His heart for us. The love was there at the creation of the world. In His eyes, it was better to create and experience pain than to not create at all.
I hope that talking about all of this creates a sacred sense of awe in your heart. A special knowing that He loves you, He chose you…and that you are beloved. Your existence wasn’t necessary for God, but it was wanted…it was thoughtfully desired.
And because He chose you despite the pain and heartache that would come with humanity, and even with your own sinful choices…when you choose Him in return, and allow Him to throw you that buoy in those stormy seas…your choice is all the more impactful. Because you weren’t forced to choose Him…you chose Him because you realized how badly you needed Him. Humility led your heart to a place of surrender.
If you haven’t made that choice yet, I pray that you would, if even for a moment…consider the love and intention that went into His creation of the world…His creation of you.
None of this is an accident. You are not an accident. So dear friend, what is your response? How will you respond to that kind of relentless, chasing after you, kind-of-love? Will you grab the buoy in the stormy seas, or will you shout above the waves, “I’ve got this”…when you really don’t.
I hope you see the beauty in the surrender. The part where you grab onto Him, and can finally breathe again. I hope you get to experience that peace. It’s truly unlike anything else you will ever know on this earth.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.