So tell me, do you have a water phobia? Are you afraid of swimming? Does fear ever affect your decision to try something new? Do you have a phobia list?
I don’t have a list, but I am afraid to get my feet wet sometimes. I’m afraid of diving into new situations and drowning.
But thank goodness God is reminding me to obey Him in the face of my fears. I have a long list of excuses and what ifs, fears, and some good reasons to justify my behavior, stay out of the water, and stay dry.
Here’s what I’m learning:
Never argue with God.
He always wins.
On Friday afternoon I attempted a pros and cons list for direction for 2011. I figured this list would help me make a decision once and for all. I planned on praying over both lists when I finished. Well I never got that far. I couldn’t even write more than a few words on each side. My mind raced with what I could write and soon a pattern appeared.
The con list was all about me.
Me.
Me.
Me.
The pro list was all about God.
God.
God.
God.
Hello? That was about the most revealing thing I’ve done in a long time. I cried and confessed to God. My heart broke. The truth is when it comes to a leap of faith, I’m afraid. Afraid to jump. Afraid to get wet. Afraid of deep waters. Afraid I’ll sink, swallow too much water and drown.
But who am I to say NO to God? He is the One who rescued me in the first place.
Anyway today I’m diving in again. Facing my fears. Jumping into waters well above my head. But I trust God will teach me how to swim. And by His grace, He leaves me a ladder just in case I want to dry off again.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
Q4U: Are you afraid to get wet? Is God inviting you to dive with Him?
Video by Steven Curtis Chapman DIVE
I'm with you, Tiffany. As I read this today, it occurred to me that the real decision is whether we choose His love, protection, provision, blessings, etc. or what we feel, think, see, fear, etc. at this moment. He's shown His faithfulness through generation after generation and He's also made it personal to me. When I think about it this way, it's a no-brainer (my brain still gets in the way plenty of times though).
Thanks for the encouragement and blessings to you in your diving and obedience! 🙂
Get wet sister…it's always safe to go into the deep with JESUS!!! He's got your back but like you there are times my own fears get in the way and it is then I remind myself in WHOM I BELIEVE…then…I jump in with my eyes on JESUS!
Love you.
Amen, Lisa.
Diving in. Have some reservations myself about some steps that I think need to be taken. But now? How about later? No, now is the time. Jump in!
thank you, Warren. I’m taking this as a sign of hope.
Thank you for sharing your struggles. We have all been there. I love your total surrender and can’t wait to see what God will do with you in 2011!
I started blogging about my life saving surgery. Please pop on over and read part one. God is so good. 🙂
Terri,
First of all congrats for on taking a plunge into WordPress. I’ll pray for you. 🙂 (You must have all your presents bought and wrapped if you’re getting into this now!)
Diving in. I love new experiences and diving in, but fall into complacency sooooo easily. Thanks for your powerful words and deep insight.
Merry 8 Days Until Christmas,
Kelli
Hi Kelli,
Actually I don’t have all my Christmas shopping done. But we shop light so I’m okay. I figure there won’t be much traffic on the blogs for the rest of the year, so it seemed like a perfect time to dive in.
Merry Christmas to you! Jesus is LORD.
Love,
tiff
Tiffany…Tiffany…Tiffany. Sorry. You’re right next to Terri Tiffany in my reader. My frazzled brain says it’s time to go to bed!!
grace to you, Kelli. No worries about the name. I have lots of nicknames. 🙂
I hear ya! Life with God is an adventure, and for those of us that aren’t so adventurous, it takes some stretching. It’s good to speak truth to ourselves, isn’t it? To read those words of scripture into our souls and remember that Immauel is with us and has the best plans for us. He’ll keep you afloat!
Tiffany. . .look at you in this fancy, new space! I like it, I like it.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for visiting. I had no idea you commented or anyone else for that matter. I didn’t have my e-mail thingy set up to notify me. LOL. Still making changes here. I made a new header today and it’s all offset now. Oh the joys of the learning curve. Happy 2011…
Oh I love your new blog home Tiffany! It’s more professional looking and yet inviting. Btw, loved your Christmas greetings. I wanted to stop by and wish you a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Merry late Christmas to you too, Debbie. It’s never the wrong time to acknowledge our savior. Thanks for commenting. Sorry I’m late in replying. I didn’t set up my email notification thingy right. Still tweaking here. Happy 2011.
Tiffany,
I completely understand your post. I recently finished up a devotional book called, “Satisfy My Thirsty Soul,” by Linda Dillow. A fantastic book about bowing your entire life (one chapter at a time) to God as an act of worship. Here is what I learned:
I’m already in the water (a vast ocean), which is where we go at salvation. To bow my life in worship requires me to stop fighting the current and allow myself to drown (die to self). It’s only when I drown that I begin to live for Jesus!
Stop treading water and let yourself drown in Him!
Wow, Sonya, great visual truths you wrote. Thank you. Linda Dillow was our retreat speaker two years ago at my former church. We bowed all weekend. It was beautiful, powerful and I still remember her teaching. Gotta love her and you…
Hey sweet friend. Yes it’s me. 🙂
I feel your trepidation about sticking your toes in…the thing is…HE MADE THE WATER. Have no fear.
We experience the same….looking from one side to the other–don’t want to look silly….but then courage comes and in we jump….
What a delight that LIFE comes from HIM as we obediently take the course He’s chosen!
Love you girl. SO MUCH. We will catch up soon.
Hello my southern friend,
When can I hear your sweet voice again? I need a little love. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement. You’ve jumped already. I’m right behind you. Good thing is we know who catches us..Splish splash!
Sweet friend, here I am, jumping with you. It’s all I know to do. I’d rather jump with God, clinging tightly to his hem, rather than jump without a net. Really, the choice is obvious, don’t you think?
I’ve certainly known the “splatter” of a selfish leap, so I’ll stick to Jesus and keep trusting that wherever he leads, I’ll be safe. Keep pressing forward, friend; I know it’s scary, but it’s ever so rewarding once you start making those steps. God is faithful. He will bring you to where you need to be.
peace~elaine
PS: Love the new look. Very professional and inviting!
Elaine, if you only knew how your faith journey is encouraging me. Thank you for sharing so much of HIS peace on your blog. You touch my heart. May God connect us in person. 🙂 SOON, LORD. Pretty please.
Still praying for your healing.
Thanks for saying hi here. I do appreciate it.
Happy New Year Tiff! Praying you jump into the amazing God has for you in 2011. Shine on! love ya, B
B, Words escape me with I think of jumping to the new in 2011 with you. God is with us. He goes before us. He IS!
God has given me that same scripture – over and over since 2003. He gave me the whole chapter this past Friday. I’m facing a huge ‘dive’ too this new year. And even though He’s shown me before hand – in a prophetic dream – how powerfully things turn around when He’s in the lead – I am dragging my feet – afraid to get wet. I don’t know how to swim. I fear water. I’ve had many dreams of me in a pool of water and someone trying to drown me. Of course, we know that it is the ‘enemy’ of Christ in me that is trying to subdue the work of the Lord – to enlarge His kingdom in me and then the world around me. In my dreams, I am always protected by a force outside of me. someone is always watching from the sidelines. this mystery person, of course must be the Holy Spirit. His eyes are always on me. Protecting me. Encouraging me. Why then, do I fear?
He’s called me to be His watchman and the watchman’s word is “DO NOT BE AFRAID!”…….I hear the Holy Spirit say this to me over and over. I hear me say it over and over to myself – and others. Still I walk in this shadowed FEAR from time to time. Fearful of taking the plunge…in the pure waters of FAITH.
Reminds me of the moment when He helped me rescue the tiny trapped sparrow – as I held him in my hand – a jublilant voice said behind me – “take his picture. I want you to remember what it feels like to be held…without fear…without walls that seperarate …without preconceived notions or understandings. SAFE in the everlasting arms of JESUS.”
FAITH is TRUST in that Almighty strength and power – that wisdom from on high – that peace that is beyond our earthly understanding. This year – my heart wants to leap into the deep and feel His refreshing waters cover me – and feel no fear. But as long as the enemy of Christ remains – Fear will always be lurking in the darkness. Therefore – I must never take the ‘plunge’ without His SONLIGHT.
Shine Jesus Shine – fill the world with your Glory. As you shine, Lord illuminate my path – that I may never walk in the darkness of FEAR.
Bless Tiffanay, Lord in her plunge to greater depths with – in – and through YOU.
Blessings for the new year
Patrina ><
warrior bride in boots
Patrina,
Thank you for sharing your heart and encouraging me. As I read your words I got excited to think of what you swimming in the deep will bring. I know you are His and so I know whatever He is asking you to do, it will be. Like you said, you will be protected. And I hear “do not fear” over and over again too. It must be the enemy’s ploy to discourage and stop the plan of God. We cannot let him in 2011. We must jump, dive, splash, make BIG waves all for the glory of God.
Thank you for reminding me of the bird post. I remember that picture and His words to you. They are to me too.
May 2011 be a year of fearless living and big faith.
Love,
t
Site looks good.
Hi Warren, thanks. I just changed it again. And now the header is wacky. I wanted to make my own header. Creative and to be more me. I did that much, now how to code the thing to center…the learning curve is fun and a pain, all in the same. Happy 2011.
Hello Tiffany
Good to see you on this side lol,wonderful post I believe to a certain degree we’re all afraid of diving in.We’re afraid of the unknown even though there is nothing that God does not know,but our Father understands our fears and he knows exactly how to get us where we need to be.Just watch,you’ll look back and wonder how did I ever get here lol. God is so good and his ways are beyond us ever finding out.I’m so very excited by all that God is doing in my life,it may not mean much to any one else,but it does to me.
Love you 😀 😀
Pat, you are such a sweetheart to me. Thank you for your love and encouragement. I support you wherever God has you in the season. I hope you keep jumping and swimming. I trust He has you in refreshing waters. Happy 2011. Love you back!