Wade in the Water

April 2014

                  

Oh no!  I am ankle deep in water.  I frantically look for Jesus, my companion on this journey, but I cannot find him.  How could I have lost sight of him?  Did he head in another direction and I was distracted by something and failed to follow along?  Is he trusting me to take the lead for now and will catch up with me later?  Surely he knows how utterly dependent I am on him.  He’s got to be here, Kara.  Open your eyes!  But I still can’t find him.  All I can focus on is how deeper and deeper I am plummeting into the water. 

I can’t believe this is happening!  All of that time in the desert alone… All of that time waiting on the beach, too terrified to walk with Jesus, to make that next good step… And then there was that glorious moment when I found myself walking on water with Jesus, finally headed towards a destination.  

My heart sinks into my stomach as I find myself waist deep in the cold water.  I can barely feel my legs.  Not again!  Kara, have you lost the faith needed to walk on water?  How easily you doubt in God’s provincial care.  You are not alone, Kara!  You ARE headed towards a destination.  Keep walking, Kara.  KEEP WALKING!

But I am unable to take a step forward and turn around.  There, I see it.  I see the shore where I sat with Jesus.  I could probably make it back to the beach.  I could sit there again and wait for Jesus to find me and invite me on another walk.  I would be safe.  I could come up with a new plan so I wouldn’t find myself in this desperate situation again.  Perhaps I will put on some sandals that float in the water for extra support.  Maybe I will bring a flotation device in my pocket, ready to whip out if I feel myself starting to sink in the water.  Maybe I will just tie a rope around Jesus, attaching me to his side so there is not a chance that I will get disconnected from him while we are walking.  Yes, perhaps I could head back to the shore and try all of this again another time.

I turn back around and face the immense stretch of water, blue as far as the eye can see.  However, in the distance I see a small sailboat with large white sails pointing towards the heavens.  I hear distant voices singing, “Wade in the water.  Wade in the water, children.  Wade in the water.  God’s a-going to trouble the water.

I take a step forward and the water remains at my waist.  “Wade in the water.”  I take another step forward and I see that the sailboat is turned in my direction.  “Wade in the water, Kara.”  I take another step forward and the sailboat appears to be getting larger.  Yes, the sailboat is moving in my direction.  “Wade in the water.”  I take yet another step, and see people in the boat waving at me, smiles stretching from ear to ear.  “God’s a-going to trouble the water.”  With a life preserver in hand, I am pulled into the boat.