I could have listened and watch the water in the grottos at Rosh Hanikra, Israel, for hours. It only took a few seconds for them to teach me something.

The waters slapped against the rock, over and over, ebbing into the rock over many years. As I watched the water, it didn’t seem to move much. It was powerful as it repeatedly crashed against the rocks, but it reminded me of someone beating his head against a wall. Sometimes, we don’t feel as if we’re going anywhere, and we feel battered through the process. We may not feel as if we’re moving, as if we’re repeatedly being slapped against the rocks, yet…

When we abide in Christ, He directs, carries, and changes us. He holds us together with others, just as the particles of water stick to each other and move as a unit. We stick with others…even when we don’t want to at times. God knows who needs to be side by side to experience the ebb and flow of life together.

God moves us to greater depths, even though we don’t like it at times, He knows when we need to repeat the same motion over and over. He knows what changes the repetition makes, even though all we feel is a sea-sickening battering.

As I watched the water ebb and flow, rise and fall, crash and recede, I was filled with gratitude. I was thankful that we can trust God to know just where we are and why. No matter where I am, I can be content…not because I’m thrilled with where I am, but because I’m thrilled that I am with God.