Imagine life is the ocean and all of us are trying to stay afloat by treading water. All of our plans, resources and energy are directed towards keeping our heads above water. Those who tread consistently enough are considered successful. Those who get tired or are pulled under are the losers and the unfortunate. In this paradigm, our view of God’s faithfulness is determined by the help He provides to keep us afloat. So, when we go under we desperately thrash and gasp, calling out for help and when He lifts us above the surface once again we cough out the water we’ve swallowed and gasp “Thank you Jesus!”
But what if…! What if, God wants to show us something else? What if He wants to reveal to us wonders under the water? What if He wants to give us the ability to remain peacefully beneath the waves and open our eyes to attributes of Himself we never could have experienced above the water? What if He wants to help us to be amphibious through our faith in Him? What if He wants us to know He is under the water with us? And beyond that, what if He wants to help us to supernaturally breath under the water through Himself.
A dear sister sang “It is Well with My Soul” to us this morning. What if the spirit of that famous hymn could be, “Wow! I can’t believe it! I’m under the water and… it is well with my soul. I’m not thrashing. I’m not gasping. I don’t understand it! I can’t explain it! But I am secure. I am confident. I am full. I am at peace. I am grateful. God is as present, as caring and as marvelous under the water as He is above it. Praise the Lord! It is well with my soul.” The Scriptures promise us it can be so. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” wrote the apostle Paul, as he breathed under the waters of imprisonment. So can we. But let us remember, the difference between gasping and exalting is not in our lung capacity but in our trust in Him.
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