In May I was privileged and excited to be back on Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast for a working holiday. It is a small island, managed by the local Wildlife Trust, an SSSI and Marine Nature Reserve, famous for its seabirds, especially the iconic puffin, and sea mammals.
My evenings were free and on one occasion I took a long walk around the coast of the island, which is beautiful, but very exposed and windy. Waves were noisily crashing against the stony cliffs and rocks and boulders below. I was suddenly aware of God’s presence through the words of the hymn which starts: ”O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder…I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed…” Although this hymn doesn’t directly include a line or verse about the oceans, it does include “when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands hath made”. My heart filled with joy as I worshipped Almighty God.
Earlier that day, my task had been to de-nail wood ready for use as kindling (Skomer is off-grid) or for re-purposing in some other way. For me, it was very hard work, even with a useful selection of hand tools. There was more de-nailing to be done the next day, too. I found myself asking God why I had to do this mundane, laborious and, frankly, boring job for hours and hours, with little progress!
A while later came the answer: “I am the God you experienced in the mighty power of the waves – the same God who allowed nails to be hammered into His hands and feet as He was nailed to a cross for your redemption and that of all mankind.”
What an awesome God we worship!