The Deep

-Written By Joy Gilman-

There's something unnerving about being in water that's out of my depth. I once went snorkeling off the coast of Maui. The boat ride to get to our snorkeling destination took nearly an hour. Finally we arrived at a giant crescent-shaped rock formation. We were at Molokini, a partially submerged volcanic crater in the middle of the ocean. The ocean floor surrounding Molokini descends nearly 250 feet in some areas. Our vessel floated above an underwater coral reef that teemed with ocean life. I dropped into the cool Pacific with fins on my feet and a snorkel and mask strapped to my face. The vastness of the underwater realm was overwhelming. In a word, I felt "vulnerable." I was floating in a setting that was unfamiliar and honestly a bit unsafe. If I was approached by a predator, I was completely on their turf without any means of protecting myself. Even though there was much beauty to be seen, I had a difficult time enjoying it. My fear and uneasiness squelched all feelings of pleasure or awe. I couldn't wait for our snorkeling excursion to end and to be back on the boat, safely heading towards land.

The shifting currents of life will eventually carry us all into seasons of being out of our depth, A.K.A deep waters. Any significant change can do that: a loved one dying, divorce, an unwanted diagnosis, a child entering adolescence, a major move, and the list goes on. Deep waters can cause us to feel overwhelmed, ill-equipped, afraid, exposed, unsure, and alone. I know this first-hand. From 2014 through 2017, I endured a horrific divorce and custody fight that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. There were many, many hours spent on my knees, crying guttural prayers for God's intervention. I literally felt like I was being swallowed up by the deep. It was a dark time. It was an isolating time. It was a formative time. It was a time spent in intimate fellowship with God. I have come to believe that deep waters are designed to draw us into the waiting arms of God who will accompany us in the abyss and carry us out and onto the shore.

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you."

Isaiah 43: 2a NLT

Recommended readings this week.

Isaiah 43

2 Corinthians 1: 1-11

Psalm 34

Psalm 56: 3-4

Matthew 8: 23-27