Wade in the Water

I watched my son’s fingers tremble as he stretched out his arms to greet the stream of shower water for the first time. He couldn’t fathom these jets of wet about to engulf him, but he was willing to reach out anyway. It was irresistible.

His eyes widened as the shower head came closer. I can imagine him assessing the situation: Is this being friend or foe? It’s in Mommy’s hand, but can I trust it? Will it hurt me? Can I bite it? Touch it? Sip it?

He chose to furtively but decisively reach out and touch in wonder and in fear.
My little one taught me a huge lesson during bath time that night; how to trust the Lord in the downpour.

I watched my son’s fingers tremble as he stretched out his arms to greet the stream of shower water for the first time. He couldn’t fathom these jets of wet about to engulf him, but he was willing to reach out anyway. It was irresistible.

His eyes widened as the shower head came closer. I can imagine him assessing the situation: Is this being friend or foe? It’s in Mommy’s hand, but can I trust it? Will it hurt me? Can I bite it? Touch it? Sip it?

He chose to furtively but decisively reach out and touch in wonder and in fear.
My little one taught me a huge lesson during bath time that night; how to trust the Lord in the downpour.

God uses water to remind us that He’s got us during life’s torrents. (Even now as I write, my son’s white noise is echoing in the baby monitor – ocean waves.)

Think I’m coming out of left field? Look at Moses’ life; one day he’s the illegally-born son of Israelites, the next he’s a refugee-turned-heir in Pharaoh’s court. His life changed in the water, when he let the waves of the Nile carry him towards his destiny (come to think of it, that demonstrated more guts on his mother’s part than his own!).  His very name signified the moment he was “drawn out” of the water.

When he flees murder charges and heads to Midian, Moses stops at a…well.

At the epic moment of liberation, when the people of Israel crossed over to freedom from slavery, they crossed the Red Sea. Moses led them.

(The next generation would claim the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan River.

What churning, chaotic element does the Spirit of God move upon in Genesis 1:2? Water. And from that moment until now, God continues to “trouble” the waters in the lives of His people, to bring justice (Genesis 7), to heal (John 5:1-9), or to humble (2 Kings 5:1-14).

Jesus, who has authority that Moses could only dream of (check out Numbers 20:8-13 to see what I mean), demonstrated His power through the water. His first miracle: changing water into wine (John 2:1-11). The symbol of belief in Him: baptism (Romans 6:4). His promise to the Samaritan woman at the well: living water that springs up into eternal life (John 4:13). The care for His bride, the Church: bathing her in pure water so that she is spotless and radiant (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Oh, and the storms. Jesus – He’s got control of that, too (Mark 4:35-40). How many times have I thought the Lord must be napping while I’m going under? Buffeted by the bills, the worry, the loneliness, the bereavement, I have cried to the Lord.

And only God can turn the major storms in life into a path of victory (can I get an “amen”?). What was an obstacle becomes a vehicle to faith. I know the Israelites that walked on dry land in the middle of the Red Sea that would later drown their captors can testify to that (Exodus 14:21-29). I know Peter, who was sinking in the stormy waters, and then walked on them through Jesus’ encouragement, can testify to that (Matthew 14:28-33).

I pray that God uses the image of my baby boy, trembling but willing to get wet (and now he even enjoys the spray!), to remind me of His lovingkindness towards me. The sea and storms of life are tools in His sure hand. And He is making me clean.