Swimming With Jesus

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4, NIV).

One of the reasons summer is my favorite season is because I absolutely love being on, in, or around water; a boat ride on the lake, walking along the beach, or floating in the pool.

The best pools are the ones that have varying depths of water. The shallow end allows me to walk right in, while in the four foot depth I can be mostly submerged on a hot day, and the deeper end facilitates the fun of a slide or diving board. It’s truly the best of everything!

But what if you’re afraid of the water? For some, just getting in the pool is the hardest part. I’ve got a few friends that feel this way, and I’ve found the best approach is to simply be supportive while allowing them to decide when they feel ready to get into the pool with the rest of us.

I think the process of sanctification, or the healing of our heart and soul with Jesus, is very similar to this pool experience. The Lord recently spoke to my heart as it relates to the path of healing that I have walked with Jesus.

Just like getting in the pool can be the hardest for some, choosing to start the process of healing my heart was maybe the most difficult thing I have done. Once I had the courage to get into the pool, I was grateful to find that my pool of healing had all three depths.

I can specifically recall periods of time where I was so overwhelmed by the ways God was uprooting my life (for the purpose of healing, of course) that I was struggling to keep my head above water. Some days I even felt like I was drowning.

Other times, I found myself in the depths of healing that allowed me to be fully present in life while also being comfortably submerged in the work He was doing in my heart.

And thankfully, I have also walked through periods of life where I have been able to relax in the shallow end while experiencing the peace of Christ that comes from all the hard, healing work.

Constantly swimming in the deep end is exhausting. We need rest from our hard, healing work. I believe much of our life should be spent in the medium depths where, though others may not be able to see it, God is working under the surface. Yet, we also need seasons where we can rest at the feet of Jesus.

I’m so thankful God calls us into the pool of healing, and that He allows us to experience the path of healing at varying depths. We must have the courage to take the first step, but once we do, He is our life preserver that will see us through everything.

Let us look to Psalm 23 as a beautiful reflection of what it looks like to find our peace in Christ, no matter what depth of water we find ourselves in. Specifically, Psalm 23:4 says: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

When we choose to step into the pool of healing, He will take us into the deep end. However, be comforted in knowing that we will never succumb to the waters because with Jesus, we are safe, protected, and saved.

#Fear