Devotion 4/21/20 – Swimming in the Deep End

The week of January 20, 2020 I made a note in my bullet journal: “When you find yourself in the real deep end, that’s when you know He’s real.  Adios shallow end” (Ann Voskamp) 

I remember learning to swim.  As matter of fact I practically grew up at the Wenatchee City Pool.  I spent my summer mornings going through all the stages of lessons and then lifeguard training and helping with lessons.  That moment when you let go of the edge, let go of the life jacket and get out where you can’t touch…not even get your nose out of the water if you stand on your tip toes, then you are a real swimmer!  But, that is a scary moment.  All of your safety nets are gone.  I like safety nets.

Trusting God.  We think we are doing that, but then there comes a test where we REALLY have to trust Him…no safety nets left, no idea what the future is going to look like, no ideas what the best thing to do might be.  Hello deep end.

Seems we have been on a journey of going deeper and deeper out into the water.  A house pay-off we needed in a short time: God did a miracle.  I thought to myself “Whew. I wonder what is next?”  What was next was a daughter’s diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.  My plan for God to follow for that one was quick and miraculous healing of her body, but He had another plan. A more perfect plan.  He knew there was other healings in her that needed attended to first.  Much more important healings than the physical kind.  He whispers “Trust Me”.   

Now here we are with this pandemic, social distancing, dark economic predictions, blame, anger, conspiracy theories and hypocrisies plastered all over social media. What human reasoning can make sense of this mess?   I can find myself drowning in “what if’s”, a nice way of saying “I am afraid”.   What, do I have “God amnesia” again?  He has always worked all things for our good.  (Romans 8:28). We all need a shot of spiritual super-food to boost our spiritual immune system. I want to be immune from fear.  I’ll take God’s Word.

“Is the Lord’s hand waxed short?” (Numbers 11:23)  No. It is not. 

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms….”   Duet 33:27

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”  Isaiah 41:10

There is song that speaks to me during this time. I keep playing it over and over.  I tear up thinking about God saying this to us.  It is “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle

(Chorus)

I will send down an army

To find you in the middle of the darkest night

It’s true, I will rescue you.

I will never stop marching to meet you

In the middle the hardest fight

It’s true. I will rescue you.