Trusting Him in the Deep Water

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