I perform what might be considered a ritual every time I visit the ocean. I walk up to the waterline, immerse my feet in the tide, and block out any activity around me.

I stand there, just the waves and myself. Taking it in, the never ending, always changing constant of the waves. And in one exhale, I throw every problem and worry and sadness as far as I possibly can beyond the horizon.

And I leave them there. Allowing them to drift away further and further from where I stand. I know eventually they will return, sometimes like a message in a bottle to remind me of where I came from, sometimes smoothed down and easier to carry.

The next morning I awake to the sunrise and allow it to renew me. I rest. I absorb every ounce of strength that the ocean displays.

I am learning to live as though this ocean to let go of what hurts me is always with me, there to comfort me and tell me that I don’t have to carry the burdens of life.

I think this is what God means when He tells me to be still and know that He is with me. That he is the neverending, always changing constant waves to wash away my troubles.

So I can turn the next page in this season and see what He has for me.