Daily Devotional for April 29, 2016

John 6:28-29
“What exactly does God want us to do?” the people asked.

Jesus answered, “God wants you to have faith in the one he sent.”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
The children and I have been going back and forth about swimming.  The oldest two have had formal swimming lessons, but Nathan has not.  In their defense, none of these three little ones can touch bottom in the pool at our community’s Aquatic Center…so they lack confidence to swim without their life jackets.  I have persuaded each child to remove his/her life jacket and let me help them swim a short distance to the wall.  But it’s not good.  Each child is fearful…and despite my best efforts to assure them that I will not let anything happen to them – that they will not drown – they protest, cry and pretty well refuse to try.

We are hoping that a summer of “swimming” at the lake, where they can wade in and control the depth of the water, will help alleviate this.  I am anticipating a day when I take them to the pool and say, “Let’s swim without your lifejacket,” and each child has faith in my promise to keep them safe - and readily agrees.

So many of us are just like these apprehensive children.  We let our fear of the unknown – of “being unable to touch bottom” – keep us from doing what God has called us to do.  Essentially, we fail to fully trust God to equip us to do the things that He has designed us to do…and we dishonor His incredible gifts and blessings.

Let’s be clear…God will not always call us to do things that are easy and fun.  Sometimes, He will steer us in the direction of someone who is difficult and tries our patience…a task that seems a little “lowly” or unpleasant…an opportunity that seems daunting and beyond our capabilities.  And when God sanctifies these things for us, He will fully enable us to accomplish them, just as He ordained.  All we have to do is trust Him and demonstrate faith and confidence in His ability to protect, undergird, and complete the mission.

How deep is your faith?  How much do you really trust God?  Are you ready to “swim without a lifejacket” and demonstrate confidence in the lessons He has taught you  - and the promises that He has made?  Will this be the day that you fully “let go and let God?”  Don’t you think it should be?


©2016 Debbie Robus

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