Don't tread water, go to the deep end!

Remember the last time we allowed fear to dictate our lives and our choices? When we allowed it to change our perspective instead of speaking faith over it. You see when we allow fear to seep into our hearts and minds, it can overcome our willpower to move forward. Allow God's promises to penetrate through our toughest fears. Allow it to speak to the very essence of our spirit. 

                      Isaiah 43:2 says.......

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." 

We've all faced some tough times in life, that is a given. I look back over my life and realize that when I allowed fear to affect my choices, the results were not as pleasing as when I allowed my faith to affect my choices. 

Looking at this verse tells us that God is with us through the deep waters of life, He is with us through the uncertainties of what may come our way and He is still with us when we walk through the fire. Holding on to that faith will help us face our trials. God is a man of His word, forever faithful to us.

During my divorce I was clueless as to who I was anymore. I was clueless as to what I was going to do at that point with my life. I feared what people would say about me. I feared the shame I brought onto my parents. I feared that I was unlovable. I feared the label my son would now have to bear. I feared my name being dragged through the dirt and being exposed to peoples judgments.

When bad things happen in our lives we automatically think God is punishing us. Or we tend to think, bad things happen as a result of our poor actions. All those thoughts crossed my mind at one point. Then I thought, sometimes it's not! We cannot change people or their actions. We cannot simply ball up and cry a river when things don't happen the way we want them to.

This is where faith comes in, God has a way of using our trials as a momentous faith booster. What some may see as punishment, God sees differently. God may be redirecting you. God may be saving you from further heartache and pain. God may be protecting you from something catastrophic. God may be helping you grow. God may be pushing your faith to the next level! He may be calling us to the deep. 

Our ways are not His ways!

In this moment, I chose not to allow fear to speak for me. I made a vow to God that I would not turn from Him when times got tough, like I'd normally do in my adolescence. No vacations from church to try and keep everything in secrecy. I chose to put my big girl pants on and carry on. The moment I made this vow to Him, was the moment my faith boosted and catapulted to greatness. It was here I had to lean solely on my faith in Him! God doesn't want us to tread water lightly, He wants us to grow where we are, go to the deep waters where our faith alone can save you! 

This verse is a promise that God will see you through anything! Nothing is too big for Him, literally! He is a sovereign God whose mercies are new to us, each day! Trust Him with whatever you are struggling with and see how He turns the situation around for you. Trust Him to fight your battles! Take the weight of what you are carrying and exchange it with His! For His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Allow Him to give you rest my friend!