When I was a very small girl, my parents took me to a lake.

My mom said the lake was beautiful and placid that day.

Mom and Dad watched me toddle to the edge of the smooth water.

The instant I reached the edge, a wave splashed over my head. Mom said I screamed inconsolably and asked many fearful questions about water for weeks.

On that day I received my lifelong fear of water. I cannot be in water that reaches my chest without feeling like I’m going to panic.

Even if my feet are firmly planted on the bottom.
Even if there is no current.
Even if I know I’m completely safe.

Later, when I was 9 or 10, Dad took us to the lake. He was determined to give me swimming lessons. He took us out to a place where the water was shallow. The sand felt good on our feet.

He’d pick me up and lay me across his arms. If I remember correctly, he wanted me to practice floating to see how that felt.

I never got that far. I was completely terrified that he would let go. He’d say over and over, “I’m not going to let you go”, but I didn’t trust him. I began screaming and clawing him. Gasping for breath, I’d grab his neck and scream.

He was frustrated I’m sure.

He’d say, “Stop it! People are looking.”
It probably looked like he was killing me by my response. The truth of the matter was that he was upholding me in his strong arms, trying to teach me a life skill. I was completely safe.

I’m fairly certain Dad gave up on the swim lessons because I still don’t swim.

My story probably strikes you as funny. It is funny looking back on it. I probably looked hilarious screaming my fool head off when I was safely held in my father’s arms.

I thought about this recently. Aren’t we like this with God sometimes most the time?

It’s not funny though when as God’s children, we scream our fool heads off about our trials. What are we afraid of? That God will drown us? That he will remove his strong arms?

He upholds us in his strong arms. He desires for us to know him and trust him. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are completely safe in his care. He has no intention of drowning us.

Perhaps like my earthly father, our heavenly father wants to equip us to live a life that is pleasing to him. Perhaps when he leads us into the waters, his intention is never to overwhelm but to give us an opportunity to trust. When trials come, why do we scream and cry and fight against our Father?

Why don’t we realize that we are being held in the arms of our Almighty Heavenly Father who knows the plans he has for us.

I failed miserably at trusting my father during swim lessons. I pray that I won’t miserably fail my heavenly Father in this “passing through the waters”.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

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