Hope Floats

Shep has been taking swimming lessons lately. When I first pictured what these lessons would be like, I was sure the lessons would look like this:

Well, it turns out that babies don't love being underwater or out of control. Who knew?!

One of the things I have learned in our lessons is that babies HATE to float. They can't do it. Everything in their little bodies tells them that they aren't safe and they squirm and flop around like a jellyfish out of water. Seriously. It's actually pretty funny to watch.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to float on my back in the water. It is relaxing and peaceful (until I hit my head on the wall of the pool, that is).

I wish I could tell Shep how great it would be if he just floated and trusted the water (and his mom) not to let him drown.

Then, I started thinking about the parallels between Shep's inability to float and the way I trust God. Life would be so much easier (and more peaceful, JOYful, etc.) if I could just lay back and float. I know that God is FOR me. He won't let me go under the water. His strength will allow me to float.

It is not that my life will be easy - God never promises us that, but He does promise that He will hold us up. He will never leave us or forsake us.

And while I know that on some level, I have such a difficult time letting go, leaning back, and just trusting Him. Trusting God and choosing not to worry.

So during this season of transition, when my fears are at their height, I am going to ask Jesus to give me the ability to FLOAT and to trust Him wholeheartedly.

And when it gets hard, I am going to remember the stories about Joseph, Noah, Esther, Rahab, Abraham, and Joshua. God has a perfect track record in keeping His people afloat. I can trust Him. I will choose to trust Him and not to live in fear.

Hope floats,
Meg