God’s Goodness in the Ocean
Marine life has always stirred my sense of wonder. Growing up in Southern Ontario, I spent hours around watersheds and tributaries. Even the smallest pond felt alive with God’s handiwork. Creation itself seemed to speak of His goodness.
Childhood Creeks in Ontario
My dad taught my brothers and me how to fish when we were little. In the summer, my brother and I would ride our bikes to the edge of town, follow a trail down to a creek, and spend the whole day there.
We’d catch frogs, light a fire, and fish off the bridge. I still remember the lesson I learned the first time I put a fish on a stringer and watched it swim away with the cord dangling from its gill. I realized the other end needed to be tied to a tree if I wanted to keep it. 😩
Simple lessons like that shaped my love for the outdoors and for God’s creation.
Living by the Ocean in Alaska
Years later, Alaska gave me my first real taste of coastal life. Visiting was one thing, but actually living near the ocean changed everything.
I marveled at whales and porpoises, seals and otters. I caught fish that landed on our table that same evening. Our family dug clams on the beach, pried mussels off rocks, and dropped them into boiling water before dipping them in butter. Salmon, once a rare delicacy back in Ontario, was now a regular part of life on the Kenai Peninsula.
The sea was beautiful and bountiful. God’s goodness showed up in every tide pool and every meal.
Appreciation for God’s Goodness in Creation
Living close to the ocean reshaped how I think about food and provision. So much of what we ate came directly from God’s hand, not a grocery store. Each meal became a reminder of His care.
It’s changed how I pray too. I thank Him for the smell and taste of food, for the blessing of being full, and most of all, for His steady provision. The ocean, with all its richness, has taught me to see God’s goodness in a deeper way.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” Creation reminds me that every gift, from fish to fresh air, comes from Him.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Do you live near a marine environment?
- How has God revealed His goodness to you through creation?
- What helps you slow down and notice His provision?
