I've
been thinking about the things that have happened in our family and what we
have been going through lately because of Loressa's accident and throughout her
recovery...I thought I'd share a little bit on here about one of the things
I've been learning. I'm sure it's nothing earth shattering to anybody
else, but it was a really good thing for me to figure out. As many of you know,
we have been attempting to trust in the Lord throughout this journey and we
have tried to rely on Him and take each day as it comes. Although we have
failed many times, God has been faithfully walking us through this whole
process.
Recently,
I was singing along to a worship song that we often sing called
"Oceans" by Hillsong." (Read the lyrics to the song at the
end of this post and what I have written might make more sense.) The
lyrics took on a clearer meaning to me than ever before and, although I have
always loved the song, I feel like it finally made much more practical sense to
me. The lyrics talk about God calling us out into the deep of the ocean and it
compares struggles to the waves in the ocean....I feel like God, through this
whole experience, has called us (my family and me especially) out to the deep
water to give us an opportunity to really trust Him.
I'm
reminded of Peter from the Bible and of the time when he had the opportunity to
walk on the water. He could walk on the water when his eyes were above the
waves and fixed on Jesus, but as soon as he looked at his circumstances (the waves)
instead of Jesus, he could no longer walk on the water. It was then that
Peter called to Jesus to save him and Jesus reached out His hand and did just
that (Matthew 14:22-33).... I know that I, personally, and possibly we as a
family would never deliberately choose to be in the deep waters, but if Jesus
calls us to come out, we should go to Him. Our tendency would always be to stay
in shallow water where our feet are always touching the bottom. If we are
touching the bottom, we can trust in something that we can feel and see. We
don't really have to place our trust in The Lord because we can trust in
ourselves, but out in the deep we must experience His grace in order to
survive. We have to trust His sovereign hand or we won't know which way to go.
I
realize that The Lord doesn't have to take us deeper. He could allow us to stay
stagnant in the shallow water, but if we let Him, he'll take us deeper than we
could ever wander on our own in order that He increase our faith. We can't even
increase our faith on our own, He has to take us to a deeper level, we can't
even fathom what that looks or feels like until He takes us there and then,
even in the deep where He has taken us, if we fail and falter and take our eyes
off of Him for even a moment, He (Jesus) reaches out his hand and rescues us
again. He knows we can't survive otherwise.
I
think that is a little of what I've been feeling... We are in the deep water.
We didn't choose to go there on our own, but He called us because He wanted us
to come. We get the privilege of walking in the deep with Jesus. The bridge to
the song says, "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me
walk upon the waters wherever you may call me. Take me deeper than my feet
could ever wander that my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my
Savior." I've sung that so many times...I guess now I realize what I was
really asking for through those lyrics and I'm thankful that He has brought me
here.
When
Jesus reached out and rescued Peter, He said, "Oh ye of little faith, why
did you doubt?"...Why do we ever doubt? He has proven in scripture and in
our own lives that He has never failed us and He won't start failing us now. He
is trustworthy...He is faithful.
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
[6x]
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
