A few months back, as I struggled to balance work, career changes and family, I caught a vision of me being a carefree stick just floating down a raging river.
Although a stick could smack against a rock here and there, it usually just floats and made its way – carried by the water.
I sought that peace amid pressures and uncertainity.
Today, the calm waters appear more often. But I think God wants me to trust in His grace no matter what’s happening. He’ll carry me, see me through.
Sometimes in faith, and sometimes just for a reprieve, I think about the strength I can find in Jesus. A great illustration of that is an uplifting Bryan Duncan song, “Strollin’ on the Water.” It’s about that invitation – to let go, step into the deep and enjoy the company of Jesus – regardless of the conditions.
In the lyrics, Jesus says:
“…Take a breath of fresh air
Feel the mist on your toes
Look where we are!”
All around me, people I know lack jobs, cope with mental illness, lose faith in their marriages, and despair over grueling circumstances. One friend’s father has one of the worst forms of cancer.
I don’t know how any of them could cope without Jesus.
Although I don’t check in with Jesus as much as I should, I find myself thinking about him, admiring him, loving Him.
And when things do get rough – when I’m in over my head and feel like I can’t even breathe – I rush toward Him. He’s not hard to find. He’s the awesome guy who even commands the seas:
“Then he got to his feet and rebuked the wind and the waters and there was a great calm. The men were filled with astonishment and kept saying, ‘Whatever sort of man is this – why, even the wind and the waves do what he tells them!’ ”
- Matthew 8:23-27
When do you reach for His hand?
Life's storm's can look menacing until...
...until I picture myself out there with Him.