Waves of the Sea

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5–8
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Waves of the Sea
The ocean is a powerful thing. Its depths have yet to be fully explored and its power is unmeasurable.  The constant pounding of waves turns mountains into beaches while shaping and reshaping the world’s coastlines.  We have used waves for our benefit in turbines and rode them for sport and amusement while surfing.  Yet for all the good they can do they are unpredictable and deadly. A rouge wave can sink the largest of ships and tsunamis cause untold amounts of damage. This is why James uses the imagery of a wave to highlight the dangers of doubt in God. He encourages us to turn to God in prayer when in need and not doubt that He will hear and answer those prayers. But when we doubt God’s goodness and love we are in danger of being like a ship without a rudder tossed to and fro by the mercy of the waves. We become unstable and risk capsizing in the storms of life. But our safe harbor lies in Christ. For even the winds and the waves obey Him as He calms the storms of this life and leads us into the still waters of His Word and Sacraments, which wash away doubt. Therefore, we seek wisdom in God and trust in His death and resurrection for us and the forgiveness of sins.