Walking with God along the seashore,
Extended sleep story.
My name is Lisa and I just want to thank you for being here tonight.
Tonight rest is coming for you.
You've carried enough today,
Felt enough,
Thought enough,
So gently allow this moment to become your quiet place.
Breathe slowly,
Knowing God is here.
Imagine now that you're arriving at a peaceful seashore,
The world around you softens,
The sky is brushed with lavender and soft blue,
And the gentle rhythm of the waves welcomes you like a familiar voice.
You step onto the sand,
Cool grains shift beneath your feet,
Grounding you,
Steadying your breath.
As you begin walking,
A warm breeze moves across your face,
It carries the scent of the ocean,
Calming your mind,
Relaxing your shoulders and slowing your thoughts.
You hear only the whisper of water touching the shore,
Soft waves folding over themselves again and again.
Like God whispering,
I am with you.
You take another step and another.
Your pace is unhurried,
Your heart is beginning to settle.
You sense a peaceful presence beside you,
Not loud,
Not overwhelming,
But gentle,
Steady,
Familiar.
You know it is Jesus walking with you.
As you walk,
The tide brushes your feet,
Cool and soothing.
Each wave seems to carry away a bit of the tension that you have held inside.
Thought after thought,
Worry after worry,
All slowly drifting out into the open water.
Far ahead,
You see a curve in the shoreline,
You follow it,
Feeling more and more at peace with every step.
The sky grows deeper now,
A calm evening setting in,
Stars begin to appear like small promises,
Tiny reminders of God's faithfulness throughout every season of your life.
You pause,
Look up,
The stars shimmer softly,
Never harsh,
Never bright enough to wake you,
Just gentle,
Peaceful glimmers.
You feel God's whisper in your heart,
I am watching over you.
You continue walking,
The sand grows smoother here,
Warmed by the day,
Still holding the memory of sunlight.
The waves roll in and out,
Steady as breathing,
And you walk in rhythm with them.
As the shoreline widens,
You notice small seashells scattered near the water's edge.
You bend down and pick one up,
Its surface is worn smooth,
Shaped by time,
Shaped by storm,
Shaped by tide,
Yet still beautiful.
You sense God reminding you that he shapes your life in the same way,
Gently,
Faithfully.
You set the shell down and continue onward,
Letting that truth settle into you.
There is no rush here,
No deadline,
No pressure,
Only the sound of your footsteps in the sand and Jesus' quiet presence beside you.
As you walk on further,
You find a piece of driftwood shaped like a small,
Natural bench.
You sit down for a moment,
Letting your legs relax.
The ocean stretches endlessly before you,
The horizon meets the darkening sky in a soft fade.
A sense of safety surrounds you,
A deep knowing in your spirit that God is near,
That you are not alone,
That you can let everything go.
God's voice speaks gently to your heart,
My child,
Breathe,
Let the weight of today fall from your shoulders,
Rest here with me.
You draw in a slow breath and let it go.
After a moment,
You rise again and continue your gentle walk.
Your feet sink softly into the sand.
Slow,
Steady steps,
Each one lighter than the last.
Soon you come to a small tide pool,
Reflecting the night sky.
The stars shimmer across its surface like a painting.
You kneel beside it,
Watching the water ripple,
Feeling a slow peace settle into your chest.
You trace a finger through the water and the ripples widen and then settle.
God whispers,
See how quickly peace can return,
So will peace return to you.
You stand,
The breeze brushing your hair,
And you walk on.
Ahead,
The shoreline rises into a gentle bluff of soft sand.
You climb it slowly,
Each step effortless.
At the top,
The views open beautifully.
Waves stretch in every direction,
Moving in their endless rhythm,
Just as God's care never stops flowing toward you.
You sit down in the soft sand,
Letting your body sink into its warmth.
The ocean continues its lullaby,
Soft and steady.
God's presence is strong here,
Warm,
Comforting,
Close.
Not dazzling,
Not visual,
But felt.
Like resting your head on the shoulder of someone who loves you deeply.
He speaks again to your heart,
You can rest now.
I am holding everything you are worried about.
I am guarding you tonight.
Your breathing deepens,
Your mind quiets.
Your body grows heavy with rest.
You lie back fully now,
Eyes closed.
The sand soft beneath you.
The sound of the waves,
Your blanket of peace.
You feel safe.
You feel surrounded.
You feel loved.
Like a small boat resting in calm waters,
Held steady by God's hand.
The waves continue their gentle rhythm,
And your thoughts fade into softness.
Your body grows heavier,
Your spirit calmer.
Your entire being wrapped in God's perfect peace.
You hear his final whisper before sleep takes you.
I am here,
Sleep now my child.
I will watch over you.
That you drift deeply,
Peacefully,
Completely into rest,
Held in God's hands.
