Growing up I thought swimming was walking in the shallow end of the concrete pool. I did this so much that my toes were raw. I watched other people splashing, diving, and enjoying the water. But I was afraid to get out of my comfort zone…the shallow end. That changed the summer I took swimming lessons. Learning to swim began with trusting the instructor.

Are you in the shallow end of your faith in Christ? Are you watching Believers go through difficult times and wish you had that level of faith? Would you like to have the confidence that God is in control? Would you like to exchange your fear for faith?

I love the story of Jesus teaching Peter about trust in the Sea of Galilee. It’s found in Matthew 14:22-33. The Disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee during a terrible storm. “And when the disciples saw Him (Jesus) walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.” Yet, when Jesus said, “Come,” Peter piled out of the boat and was walking on water until he took his eyes off Jesus to look at the storm. At that moment he began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!” “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

I still remember my swimming instructor saying, “I’ve got you!” Learning to follow Jesus is like swimming…you must Trust Him. He will provide instruction & encouragement for each of us to swim with confidence in the deep end of life. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-13, “to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Just going to the pool, wearing a bathing suit & splashing water did not enable me to swim in the deep end without fear. So, it is with following Christ. If you have fear, anxiety or are unable to love unlovable people, you need to be in God’s Pool (His Word) receiving daily instruction and regularly engaged in a Bible led & teaching church. For my and me family our pool is: FirstNLR (https://www.firstnlr.com/) and Bible Study Fellowship (https://www.bsfinternational.org/) We have found incredible life-saving applications through His Word. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 Hope…in a hopeless world!

God did not call His Followers to remain in the shallow end of life. He called us to be Champions for Christ. Jesus guaranteed our victory on The Cross. It’s time for Believers to get prepared, get out of their comfort zone…to boldly proclaim His Hope, His Joy, and His Peace. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Our instructor (the Holy Spirit) is at the deep end calling you. What are you going to do?