When our daughter was a little girl, she would stand on the shore and wait for wave of seawater to wash over her feet and then quickly retrieve back out to sea. This was her idea of playing in the ocean. Anything over her toes was too deep and too terrifying.
One day, her dad pointed to a sandbar not too far out in the water. “Look at the kids playing on the sandbar,” he said to Peyton. “Would you like to go out there?” He asked.
Peyton took a long look at the sandbar before she replied. “No. I’ll stay here at the edge of the water.”
Her dad knew she would enjoy the sandbar, but she was afraid of passing through the deep water to get there. “Come on, Peyton,” he said. “You don’t have to be afraid. You can trust your daddy. I will carry you.”
Peyton clung tightly to her daddy’s neck. As the water got deeper, Peyton became more frightened. “I’ve got you.” Her dad reassured.
Finally, they reached the sandbar. When Peyton realized she could touch, a smile returned to her face.
Have you ever felt like you were sinking in deep water? The hardships of life can be overwhelming. God never promised us that we would escape the turbulent seas of life, but He does promise this: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and though the rivers, they shall not overflow you” (Isaiah 43:2)
We can trust God to not only be there, but to carry us through. That kind of support calms my fears and builds my trust. What about you? Are you fighting to stay above water? Then let go and let God carry you.
Before your burden overcomes you, trust God to put His arms underneath you!
Micca Campbell