John 16:12-15

John 16:12-15 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I love going to the beach & walking along the surf.  There's something about the feel of the sand on my feet and the sound of the waves that relaxes me.  Swimming in the ocean, however, is not one of my favorite things to do.  Between the constant turbulence from the waves and the uncertain about what's lurking in the water, it gives me too much anxiety.  As someone once said, humans drop pretty far in the food chain once we get past six feet of depth in the ocean. 
  Faith is often compared to the ocean -- as we grow in our maturity, our faith deepens and takes on more diversity.  We gain a richer understanding of the work and love of Jesus Christ and see how complex the demands of the Holy Spirit can be -- we understand giving as more than just financial gifts, but also the proper use of our time and our talents.  We experience God in joyous celebrations and heartbreaking tragedies, and throughout all of it, we realize that God is good and that love ultimately will triumph over evil, despite the fact that evil still influences our lives today.
  Jesus is reminding us that there is much more to learn, including things we cannot live in this life.  Once we pass through the veil of death and enter fully into God's Kingdom, we will learn more about the incredible glory of God.  Our hearts and ears could not bear to fully know these things now, but when we stand in the presence of God, we will fully know and grasp wonders that are hidden from us now.
  So let us press on in faithfulness now, allowing the hope and expectation of the Kingdom lift our hearts with joy in the knowledge that what lies before is far more beautiful than we can imagine in the depths of our hearts.