FLOAT, FEAR, FAITH

Floating through Life's Currents: A Lesson In Faith on the Fourth of July!

I learned to swim in the Platte River, near our family’s humble cabin outside North Bend, Nebraska. With no running water, electricity, or indoor plumbing, it was the solitude many yearn for in today's fast-paced world. As a kid, the cabin seemed a nightmare filled with daddy long leg spiders and the dreaded outhouse.

But the Platte River never lost its draw. The Fourth of July was always special. The river’s waters would recede, making swimming relatively safe. My dad would walk me out past the first exposed sand dune, guiding me into the river with his steady hands, assuring me I could float on my back. It was a step-by-step process. I found a place where the water was chest-high and navigable. My dad would lay out his hands, prompting me to lay back and float, supporting me with his open palms.

I felt his resolute hold keeping me above the current. Little by little, he would release his reinforcement, allowing me to float unaided. But then it always happened— the river’s subtle power under the surface would start to pull me downstream. My dad would reassure me I was fine, but the fear of being swept away and drowned would make me collapse with flailing arms and legs. If you know anything about floating, you must stay calm, let the water create buoyancy, center your breathing, and maintain water displacement. But the reality of floating in a river instilled palpable fear.

Why the story of floating and fear? It is an analogy I often use when sharing my faith in God. In the river of life, I lay back, breathe deeply, and trust my Father’s hands to sustain me through daily challenges. When those hands feel as if they are leaving me floating perilously, I collapse. Instead of my limbs flopping wildly, my mind conjures scenarios of depression, defeat, and demise. It is then, in moments of deep distress, I realize my Father’s hands never left me. My faith assures me that there will be times when I feel as if I am drowning, flopping, and flailing. But my Father’s fingertips are like pillars of cement, guiding me safely through the waters of disillusion and discontent. A pastor once said that if you feel God has moved away, it is you who have created the distance.

This July 4th, as we celebrate freedom, may you reflect on the freedom God gives to those who trust in Him. If you are not allowing God to lift you out of the currents of hurt, anger, and disappointment, I hope you will move closer to Him in your prayer life. Start where you are and change your ending!

Prayer:

Father God, please open the heart of anyone reading this. Allow Your words of comfort and hope to fill their soul. I prayerfully ask that You invite this person to move closer to You and hear Your whispers. The waters are turbulent, evil is around us, and some days seem purposeless. It is only through our faith in You that we can enjoy Your blessings. Amen.