Psalm 46 (NIV)
Not all of you will know that I am an identical twin. Biologically we are identical but in so many ways our likeness stops there, this was particularly evident in our attitudes towards danger and adventure as children. My sister was very fearful as a child.
I will never forget the day my grandparents took our older cousins and us to a beautiful river near Dartmoor. It was a brilliantly hot and sunny day. As kids do, my cousins and myself made a mad dash for the water, desperate to get wet and play. My sister, however, because of her nerves was slower to join us. As she approached us we were already in the middle of the stream.
My cousins seeing her nerves decided it would be terribly funny to tease her (as only male cousins can) and to taunt her, "Be careful! Watch out for the conga eels!" By this time my sister was ankle deep in the river. On hearing this she totally freaked out and jumped up onto a rock in the middle of the river with the water lapping at her toes. She was so full of fear and she screamed for so long that a very large crowd gathered, she was inconsolable and would not be quiet for long enough to even listen to the voice of my grandfather telling her all was well. Eventually a man on the river rescued her in a dingy (Yes, my cousins were in trouble).
My sister experienced the river on that hot day and found safety on a rock in the river but she missed out on the fullness of fun of the river, the refreshment on a dry, hot day, she missed the adventure because she listened to the lies of foolish men, she was full of fear and was transfixed on the turmoil she perceived all around her.
We will in our lives experience turmoil and even more so as we hurtle towards the end of this age and Jesus returns (as well as a huge encouragement this psalm is an insight into that day).
I believe God is calling to us asking, “How deep are we in the River of Living Water? How deep do we allow the Holy Spirit in our lives?"
As believers in Christ, we are already in the River but how deep are we? Ankle-deep? Knee-deep? Waist-deep? Or out of our depth? How deep do we want to go?
As we go deeper still, we will find that we have to swim and let go of the firm ground even if that means facing things that scare us. In the River of living water, we have to let go of self and let the Spirit takes us to where He wants.
How much control do we actually have in our lives? Surely it is far better to let the Holy Spirit have control, to really swim in the river whose streams make glad the city of God.
Do we allow circumstance to rob us of all God has for us or do we choose instead to be still and know that he is God? To stop screaming and listen to the voice of the one who has authority of our lives? In the midst of difficulties we face in life, no matter what they look like; the command to be still does not come from a lack of troubles. It comes from a steady trust and recognition of God's presence with us.
Although we will definitely face troubles in our lives and more so as we head towards the end of the age we can be encouraged that the river of God does bring healing and Jesus is right there in his dingy reassuring us. We can be certain that we are safe, even when waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging because the Lord of hosts is with us, he is our refuge and he is our victory.
I will never forget the day my grandparents took our older cousins and us to a beautiful river near Dartmoor. It was a brilliantly hot and sunny day. As kids do, my cousins and myself made a mad dash for the water, desperate to get wet and play. My sister, however, because of her nerves was slower to join us. As she approached us we were already in the middle of the stream.
My cousins seeing her nerves decided it would be terribly funny to tease her (as only male cousins can) and to taunt her, "Be careful! Watch out for the conga eels!" By this time my sister was ankle deep in the river. On hearing this she totally freaked out and jumped up onto a rock in the middle of the river with the water lapping at her toes. She was so full of fear and she screamed for so long that a very large crowd gathered, she was inconsolable and would not be quiet for long enough to even listen to the voice of my grandfather telling her all was well. Eventually a man on the river rescued her in a dingy (Yes, my cousins were in trouble).
My sister experienced the river on that hot day and found safety on a rock in the river but she missed out on the fullness of fun of the river, the refreshment on a dry, hot day, she missed the adventure because she listened to the lies of foolish men, she was full of fear and was transfixed on the turmoil she perceived all around her.
We will in our lives experience turmoil and even more so as we hurtle towards the end of this age and Jesus returns (as well as a huge encouragement this psalm is an insight into that day).
I believe God is calling to us asking, “How deep are we in the River of Living Water? How deep do we allow the Holy Spirit in our lives?"
As believers in Christ, we are already in the River but how deep are we? Ankle-deep? Knee-deep? Waist-deep? Or out of our depth? How deep do we want to go?
As we go deeper still, we will find that we have to swim and let go of the firm ground even if that means facing things that scare us. In the River of living water, we have to let go of self and let the Spirit takes us to where He wants.
How much control do we actually have in our lives? Surely it is far better to let the Holy Spirit have control, to really swim in the river whose streams make glad the city of God.
Do we allow circumstance to rob us of all God has for us or do we choose instead to be still and know that he is God? To stop screaming and listen to the voice of the one who has authority of our lives? In the midst of difficulties we face in life, no matter what they look like; the command to be still does not come from a lack of troubles. It comes from a steady trust and recognition of God's presence with us.
Although we will definitely face troubles in our lives and more so as we head towards the end of the age we can be encouraged that the river of God does bring healing and Jesus is right there in his dingy reassuring us. We can be certain that we are safe, even when waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging because the Lord of hosts is with us, he is our refuge and he is our victory.
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