When Oceans Rise

When I first transferred to Oregon State, God planted a dream within my heart to live in a house with my best friends. I deeply desired a group of friends who love God all living together under one roof.

In 2012, that dream came true. I moved into a house that we soon named, the Mansion.

This house was a dream come true. It is located on a main strip close to campus. This house was HUGE and allowed me to store everything I wasn’t currently using. This house had a beautiful kitchen so I was able to bless others by cooking yummy meals. This house became my home. We felt safe, loved, and happy to share this space with all who needed somewhere to go. I had planned to continue living in this house until I had to move out of Corvallis or until I got married.

Its funny when you make your own plans. I’m sure God laughs when we do that. A few days ago, I found out that living in this house is no longer an option. On June 30th, I will be moving out of this beloved home.

When I found out, I was absolutely shocked. I thought that that just couldn’t happen. There was no way I could move away from this house. This was MY house. But God planned otherwise. I am thankful for the time I got to spend in this house, growing, learning and living life with others. My days were filled with anxiety. I was so stressed trying to figure out what to do next. My mind raced with thoughts about where I was going to live, graduation looming over me- shaking my life to become a complete set of unknowns. No idea about jobs, housing, finishing school…the list went on and on. I was completely overwhelmed.

In that place of being overwhelmed, I found myself at the feet of Jesus.

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

I felt like I was drowning. But this song brought me to tears before my Savior and dearest friend. After a day of completely melting down at every possible turn, a friend asked me to go to the beach with her. I thought the get-away would be a good stress reliever, so I went. As I stood on the shore of the ocean, the waves crashed violently along the rocks where I was standing. This ocean was so powerful. God is so much more powerful than that. He created the ocean, AND hes bigger than what I was feeling and experiencing. In that moment, God filled me with peace and reassured me he would carry me along the waves. He has never failed me before, and I KNEW he wouldn’t fail me now.

Saturday morning my future roommates and I secured a place to live. I am so excited about what this new adventure is going to be. I’m excited for the location God has called us to as roommates and the new community we will get to embrace. I’m excited to walk along these unknown waters where God called me. He’s taking me deeper than my feet could ever wander.

Days before I got the news about my house, I prayed and asked God to shake me. To shake my life, my comfort, and make me rely on Him like I haven’t before. Boy, did He answer.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9