Recently, we visited a beach on the West side of the island of Oahu. So picture this. Two beaches connected by a deep waterway. In the beginning, we can wade through fairly easily. Then, the water comes creeping up to the waistline and continues getting deeper. It’s so deep, the water comes up to our neck and our feet eventually no longer touches the bottom.
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By the time you get through this waterway, you are swimming in deep, rocky waters. If you want to bring a towel to lay on the beach, you will have to dog paddle with one arm and hold your towel bag in the other hand, raised high up above the waves. There is an alternative walk through some jagged boulders, but we prefer the swim instead.
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Many people don’t come over to this side because of the hassle to get here. But the swim through that waterway brings you to a breathtaking, beautiful stretch of sand. This deserted beach is akin to a hidden gem. It’s sequestered and serene, with few individuals in the water. The effort to arrive here is so worth the meandering endeavor.
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Our relationship with Jesus is the same way. When we trust Him a little, it’s like wading in the water. When we trust Him a little more, the waters will come up to our waistline. When we trust him completely, we are going to be submerged in water. But unless we keep going deeper, downward and inwards into the waters with God, we are not going to see the hidden beach on the other side. We will miss the gem God wants us to uncover, the truths He desires us to discover. When we limit our reach towards God in the waters of our lives, we confine God’s redemptive arms to lead us deeper, wider, and higher.
When we determine to go pass our familiar into the waters of God’s fullness, inherent risks present themselves. Comprehending our reluctance, God will not ask us to swim further than we are spiritually capable or where He hasn’t tread. Our fears shouldn’t be of drowning, but of possessing only a toes-deep adoration instead of a full foot-to-head immersion devotion into God’s ocean deep.
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In your life, is there somewhere God is calling you to go beyond your comfort zone? No journey that requires trust in God to take that swim of faith will be without divine reward. So swim deeper, trust God a little more, more than you did before, and go find that gem on that hidden beach.
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©️2019 Jordan Su