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When I was a very young, maybe five-years-old, my Mom had taken us swimming. We were splashing around enjoying the water, as children do. Two older boys decided it would be great fun to hold me under. As the water went over my head, terror overtook me. When they finally let me up and I was able to breathe again, my enjoyment of the water had turned to terror. Panic would overcome me whenever water went over my head.

Due to a recent automobile accident, I have had to undergo extensive physical therapy for back, hip and shoulder injuries. I was not responding to the treatments and my physical therapist recommended water therapy. Somehow, doing the same exercises in water is different from doing them on land, and my body has begun to heal very well with water therapy.

I heard a sermon once that talked about how life with Jesus is like wading into a river. You can get your feet a little bit wet, maybe up to your ankles and there is no real fear of being swept under. Even when the water is up to your knees, you are pretty safe. When you venture even deeper into water, the buoyancy of the water begins to tug at you when you are about waist deep. It is only when you dive head first into the water that you are able to move freely within it.

I have since been released from physical therapy, and have joined an aquasize class. When I do my exercises in the shallow end of the pool, it is not a lot different from doing them on land. The pain begins to return in my body and I am unable to respond well to the exercise that is supposed to help me. It is when I go into the deep water, using something to hold me up of course, that I am able to exercise freely and do the most good for my body.

It is not until I dive in head first and say, “Lord, take me where you want me to go”, that I am able to be at peace. It is the deep water where faith and trust reside. When I dive head first into the water that Jesus gives, He holds me up. He is my life preserver. When I dive into the deep water, totally giving over my life to Him, my life begins to make sense, and I no longer feel that I am drowning.

I am reminded of the story of Peter:

And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:29-31

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he stepped out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus. It was only when he took his eyes off of Jesus that he began to sink.

So long as I keep my eyes on Jesus I am not afraid of the water. When I take my eyes off of Jesus, I begin to sink. When I dive into the deep water, I am putting my faith in Jesus and letting Him take me where He wants me to go. So long as I keep my eyes on Him, I will not sink.

Are you standing ankle deep in the river of Jesus? Walk in a little deeper. See where it will take you. Don’t let fear keep you on the river banks.

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Danni Andrew has lived in the Four Corners area of northern New Mexico. She likes to cook, sew and paint as well as write. Danni also teaches Home Economics for grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, at her churches elementary school. Danni has found that the best place to write is in her camper somewhere up in the mountains and gets inspiration while fishing and camping. Visit her website. Send Danni your comments.