Dive in, a photo by andrea_sdl83 on Flickr.
You may have never seen me dive into a pool or river. That's because I don't. I have before...about 30 years ago when I was taking swimming lessons. But only because I had to in order to finish the class. I don't like to dive. Into anything. My preference is to wade in. It is safer. It is slower. It doesn't make water go up my nose.
Honestly, I have been wading in this river (of life, ministry, speaking, writing) for many years now. Though I have appreciated the security of being in waters that I could tower over, I have not experienced the fullness of what God has for me. So what now? God has spoken truth into my life. I have listened and want to obey. The call: dive in.
Dive into My Life. Dive into My Word. Dive into My Plan. Dive. In.
I want to. I really do. But my heart trembles and my mind races to the what ifs. What if water goes up my nose? What if I can't catch my breath? What if I am overtaken by the current? What if I...drown?
He whispers, "I am the River. The River must overtake you. It must consume you. It is only then that you experience the abundant life I have for you. I am waiting. Trust the River. Once you release yourself fully to me, it is freeing. It is exhilarating."
Where the River flows, life abounds. Ezekiel 47:9
In his book, Chasing Daylight, Erwin McManus discusses this next step in our journey with God.
"Is it possible that there is a place that you must go to experience the fullness of God in your life? There is for all of us a pool of Siloam, a place called Sent, a journey we are called to where things become more uncertain before they become clear, where our need for faith in God increases with every step rather than diminishes. This journey requires absolute certainty in the goodness of God while at the same time we relinquish our demand to know the details."
Lord, I am in over my head now. Please help me not to panic, but to trust You. Help me to rest in the rushing River.
Won't you join me in the River? Please leave a comment and let me know if you struggle with diving in as well. I would love to be in this wild adventure with you!
7 comments:
ITS RIGHT WHERE IAM AT RIGHT NOW KELLI AND I KNOW GOD LOVES ME AND HAS PLANS AS JEREMIAH TELLS US29:11 BUT I HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL TO HIM AND AS IM TRYING TO START NEW CHAPTERS AS CHRIST CALLS ITS BEEN DIFFICULT,,BUT PRAISE GOD FOR THIS AWESOME MESSAGE AND WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE HE SAYS IF IT WEREN'T TRUE I WOULD HAVE NOT TOLD U SO..SO I KNOW GOD WORD IS TRUTH AND THANKS FOR LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT I NEEDED THIS...
I once dove into the shallow end of our pool and hit my head so hard on the bottom that I ripped out a huge chunk of hair & chipped three teeth. I think that's what I have been afraid of in this whole writing adventure--diving in & hitting my head against a cement block of failure, embarrassment, and wasted time. You have encouraged me to release my fears & trust God's plan. :) Thank you for this post!
Alicia, Hold on! Trust God's Timing. Thank you for your encouragement.
Brittany, I am so sorry about your experience, but such a good reminder that when we dive in, we must go deep! Thank you for commenting.
Kelli.. wow this post encouraged me so much I read it over and over. I feel exactly like I am in the diving in stage right now.. God is calling to take a dive and start forming to board for directors for the ministry I feel so strongly God is birthing in me to start.. but that feels like diving so far deep into the deepest desires of my heart. I loved this kelli. Thank you so much. When I think of you and your talks you gave it makes me smile. I pray blessings on you as you dive in!
Jenn
Great post, Kelli. I am diving in as well. I love that He is the river. As long as we try to tread water, we will exhaust ourselves, but once we trust Him and allow ourselves to die...(die to self) by drowning in His river - He will then take over and give us abundant life!
It's the drowning to self that is the scary part. The unknown life of total dependence on Him.
I want to dive... but like you said, I'm scared of the 'what ifs'. This is a very good post. I'm glad I found it. :)
Hi Kelli,
My name is Leah DiPascal and I'm Renee Swope's assistant at Proverbs 31 Ministries
Congratulations! Your name was selected for the “Contagious Confidence” give-away on Renee’s website which she announced last week:
http://reneeswope.com/2011/08/1470
Your gift pak includes:
A Confident Heart book
Confident Heart Sticky Notes (that have quotes and promises from Renee’s book)
$5 Starbucks gift card
Please email me your mailing address (street address preferred/not P.O. Box) so we can get those gifts out to you.
Sweet Blessings!
Leah
Leah.Proverbs31@gmail.com
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