Trying something we have never done before can terrify us, whether it is our first bike ride without training wheels, our first drive on the highway with Mom, or our first speech in front of a room of strangers.
After I learned how to swim, it took me a while before I gathered up the courage to take my first plunge into the deep end of the pool. I was sure I would flail around and then sink like a rock.
God’s purpose often puts us into deep waters. He calls us to move from the safety of the kiddie end of the pool and head toward the deep end. If we choose to paddle only in waist-deep water, we miss the chance to witness his grace and power at work.
His best work is revealed in the deep recesses of life. It is God’s way to get us ready for the next chapter in our walk with his Son, Jesus Christ. God does not put us in deep waters simply to see us go down but to deepen our faith and grow our trust.
Do we trust that God will not let us drown? Believing in his protection and care for each and every one of us, we can have the power to swim through the choppy waters of life. When we do, we’ll emerge on the other side with a new-found strength — a new perspective and a new spiritual lesson on how to stay afloat when we find ourselves in the depths of life’s struggles.
Father, I often ignore your nudges to try something new and unexpected. Please give me the courage to embrace the circumstances you place me in. Do not let fear prevent me from taking a step forward. Amen.
Go Deeper — First times always feel a bit scary. Recall an incident when you plunged ahead anyway. What happened? When was the last time you did that spiritually?
Photo Credit: Braden Collum