Taking The Plunge

 So I've decided to take the plunge... literally.  All my life I have avoided being in water any higher than my waist.  But no more.  All of my life I had a fear of deep water.  This was mostly because I didn't know how to swim.  And for many years I wouldn't even go near a pool for fear of possible drowning even when I was around family and friends who all could swim very well.

I just felt so incompetent and frightened and I just couldn't have fun in water.  It certainly made going to pool parties a drag.  I was the girl fully dressed and sitting on a lawn chair watching everyone else have fun.

Why did I never learn to swim when I was younger?  Well among other health issues I had terrible ear infections and needed tubes in my ears.  So I wasn't allowed to get any water on my head.  Then when the tubes came out I wasn't allowed near large bodies of water because I didn't know how to swim.  My mother, bless her heart, would always remind me not to get too close.  She meant well but it did nothing to encourage me to learn.

Now that I'm an adult I am determined to overcome this life-long fear of water. I don't believe that the fear has me any more.  I'm still nervous and I almost didn't go through with it but God has been encouraging me to trust Him.

He protected me in multiple mission trips across the ocean.  And I had to learn to trust Him when I got on a plane by myself for the first time.  And that trip wasn't anywhere in the Us but to another country. Talk about being nervous.  I remember the stress of wondering how to go through customs and making sure I had all my papers and passport.  And then I had my violin with me and I didn't want that taken from me and I was hoping my luggage wouldn't get misplaced. Yup.  I really had to trust God.  

I had to trust Him to protect me when I had to learn how to get around public transportation in England and Spain by myself.  And then, a few years later, I was in charge of leading an entire mission team! That time I was concerned not only about my safety but that of everyone I was responsible for.  So... yeah.  God is faithful.

So if God was with me through all of that and protected me through all those events... He is more than capable of helping me overcome my insecurities in water.   With His help I will learn to swim.

But its taking that first plunge into the unknown... its seeing how totally and completely insufficient I am to help myself that is so frightening.  I'm forced to see myself as a fragile human being.  I am not in complete control of my life.  And I'm also forced to trust strangers.  In this case I have to trust my swimming teacher.  She will be the only other person in the pool with me so I have to trust that she knows better than I and will keep me safe.

But facing the unknown and being made aware of our limitations is not uncommon, is it?

We all have to face them in life.  It could be relationships, jobs, careers, health, etc.  We just don't know or can't see how things will end.  But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep moving forward and trying to reach for a better tomorrow even if we are afraid.

Joseph was fearful, Joshua was too.  Elijah, Elisha, Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Mary, and on and on we could go.  God knows we are weak.  But He also knows what we are each capable of if we would only trust Him.  

So what frightens you?  What have you been avoiding in life?  Could it be that God will have you face your fear(s) one day?  And if He does, is your trust in Him enough to help you be victorious?  If not, what can you do today to strengthen your relationship with Him?

You are not alone dear reader.  We all have mountains to climb.  God is faithful.  He will help you.  Be open to His quiet voice and His gentle ways.  

If you think of me over the next few days I would appreciate your prayers for courage.  This is a tough one for me but I sense that now is the time to overcome.  In the comments let me know how I, in turn, can pray for you.

Blessings! 

 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

~ Philippians 4:13