Some people have difficulty floating in water. They awkwardly fumble around, trying to lay on their back in the water without sinking. They wave their arms back and forth in the water trying to support themselves. They lean their head back farther and tense their spine. To no avail. The harder they struggle, the more elusive the task becomes.
Not me. I’m a natural born floater. It’s one of my favorite things to do whenever I am in the water. I can float on my back with little to no movement for a long time. Sometimes I joke with my family that it’s my “muscle to fat ratio” that makes it so easy for me. Apparently there is truth to that…but that’s a post for another day.
To me, floating freely in a pool or lake is relaxing. Serene. Calming. Just my face, fingers, knees and toes are visible above the surface. Other parts of my body sink beneath the water a bit, but not enough to take me under.
My breathing slows and I am enveloped in a peaceful embrace. It’s quiet. Calm. My worries give way as I trust in what holds me.
I don’t understand how I am held up by the water. It’s impossible, right? But I feel secure in knowing that just as I have been supported in the past, I will be this time. And the next time. And the next.
Think about the Israelites who were talked into escaping their lives of slavery in Egypt by Moses. He was told by God to bring His people out. But before they had gone very far, they found themselves in a tight spot. The mountains and Red Sea were in front and beside them, the Egyptian soldiers coming up behind them.
Exodus chapter 14 tells us that the Israelites could see no way out of their situation. Many of them wanted to return to slavery at the hands of the Egyptians even though it was a terrible life for them.
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14
Do you think Moses knew what God was going to do to rescue them? I don’t think so. But God gave Moses some instructions…and He obeyed God. And God provided an escape route through the Red Sea for the Israelites. God made possible what was impossible.
The way I feel when I’m floating is similar to the way I believe we are to trust God. We take a step in faith, then if we are following God, we can relax and trust Him to take care of us. We can stop struggling to keep our bodies on top of the water. We can stay calm and just position ourselves to receive God’s possibilities for us.
Rest in God’s secure embrace and His support. Even if we see no way out of our current situation, He will make a way for us. If we trust Him, he will bring the possible from the impossible.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
