Have you ever swum in choppy water? Or swum in water way too deep for you? Have you tried searching for what lies beneath the surface, but it’s so murky, you can’t see anything?
I’m not sure about you, but I much prefer to swim in a pool, where the water is reasonably clear, I can touch the bottom (or at least swim to a point where I’m able to) and enjoy the calm surface.
Swimming in the ocean? That’s a whole different ball game. The water is choppy (even without wind), there is no sign of the sea floor and not being able to see anything creates a level of anxiety. Why would anybody want to swim there? I know there are people who have made great achievements swimming in the ocean (like my aunt who swam from Paraparaumu Beach to Kapiti Island). But me? No thanks. I’ll stick to my local swimming pool.
Yet God often calls us to go into the deep. To hold His hand as He guides us into new depths and unknown territory.
Our church has been moving through a theme for the beginning of 2023. That theme is ‘Into the Deep’. As we walk into church, we see a banner illustrating this phrase - a picture of the sea, depicting what is above and below the surface, with shards of light piercing through the darkness of the water. The fundamental scripture: Ezekiel chapter 47 verses 1 to 12. The part that resonated with me the most has been verses 3 to 6:
“Then the man went toward the east. He had a measuring line in his hand. He measured off 1,700 feet. He led me through water that was up to my ankles. Then he measured off another 1,700 feet. He led me through water that was up to my knees. Then he measured off another 1,700 feet. He led me through water that was up to my waist. Then he measured off another 1,700 feet. But now it was a river that I could not go across. The water had risen so high that it was deep enough to swim in. He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’”
It paints a picture of gradual movement into the water. They weren’t left to their own devices to wade in alone. They were led. They were guided by the hand of someone who knew the water well. They could trust the person who was showing them what to do.
When you stay at the shallow end, you know you’ll be safe. But after a while, it gets a bit boring. You can see the excitement at the deep end and what people are doing down there. They look so confident and what they are doing looks like heaps of fun. But your own confidence takes a dive (figuratively speaking) and the anxiety rises. The barrier between you and the exciting stuff goes up. It feels like you’ll never make it to the deep end. So, the quiet paddle in the shallows continues on.
Then God invites you to take His hand and move out into the deep. He shows you places that are exciting and sits with what’s on your heart. Those things that you’ve wanted to do for a long time. The things He has created you to do. But you can’t do it alone. There’s no way you can do it alone. Now you have to make a choice - stay in the shallows or move with Him into the deep.
This year I have truly sensed many ‘into the deep’ moments. Situations and experiences where I know I cannot ‘go it’ alone. I have been placed in roles and responsibilities where I have lost that sense of self-security. I have had my independent nature challenged to the core. I like to think that I am competent, and I know I am to a point. But God has been quietly confronting my self-reliance. There are too many times when I know the depths are way over my head. So I call out to him, for His hand to hold me and move me forward.
I recently watched a scene from ‘The Chosen’ when Jesus and Peter walk on water. Peter is so desperate. He is so distraught by his wife’s miscarriage and, in his grief, is determined to meet Jesus. In his own strength, he walks towards Jesus. But then he sees the enormous waves around him and sinks below the surface. He flounders beneath the surface of the water, like someone who is about to drown. Suddenly, a ray of light surrounding a human hand breaks through and pulls Peter up. He clings to Jesus and sobs, “Don’t ever let me go. Don’t let me go.”
How truly wonderful is the depiction of this miracle. In Peter’s uttermost anguish, he learnt to hold onto the Almighty one and ride the depths of the water. At the end of himself, he met the Son of God, who later led Peter on to what He had called him to do.
How is God calling you into the deep?
Fiona Murray has a passion for telling stories, both real and fictional, to engage the reader in the greatest hope of all, Jesus Christ. She has been a primary school teacher, teacher aide, personnel administrator for a mission organization and financial assistant for a community trust, all of which has grown her love for detail and creativity. Fiona is also undertaking further theology study to enhance her writing. She is married to Alan, and they live in Selwyn, Canterbury (NZ) with their children.