Drowning
Life is messy. It can be hard and feel heavy. We may feel lost in the middle of it. We may feel like we aren’t strong enough to get through whatever mess we are in the midst of.
A lot of times, I try to rely on my own strength, my own opinion, or my own solution. But I’m realizing that relying on myself eventually fails every time. It is not myself that I need to rely on, but it is God’ strength, God’s opinion, and God’s solutions that I need.
While I haven't been around that long, I’ve realized that a lot of the mess can start in our own heads, or at least mine can. The stresses and responsibilities of life are demanding. Anxiety and depression can be crippling. The societal pressure or personal strive to be perfect and have it all together doesn’t help, either. We can be drowning in our own heads and not even realize it.
When we feel like we are drowning, God promises to pull us out. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (NIV). God saving us may not be one big, monumental moment but perhaps a lot of little, almost unnoticeable moments. A sermon that speaks to our situation, someone checking in on us, the ability to seek professional help, an encouraging message, advice from someone you trust, a heartfelt conversation, spontaneous plans from a friend, a new hobby, etc. the list can go on, but these are all ways God may be trying to pull us out of the water of our own heads. Each little thing may be something that he uses to give us a little bit more of His strength and hope. So, my best unprofessional advice, and the advice that I try to follow myself, is that the next time you feel like you're drowning, ask God to reach down and pull you out, and look for the small ways that he might be doing it.
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