TRUSTING HIM THROUGH THE BREAKERS

It takes a certain amount of courage to go out into deep water at the beach.  It's easy to stay in the shallows but deep water requires trust - in your own ability to swim at the very least or trust in the lifeguard to rescue you if needed. 

Joining up with the writers of Five Minute Friday.  Today's prompt word is TRUST. 

To get to the deeper, calmer water, you have to get through the breakers.  That's the hard bit.  I've been dumped plenty of times trying to get to the calm waters beyond.  It's a scary experience.   Those breakers are powerful and unpredictable.

They say grief hits you in waves like the breakers that can knock you over, that come out of nowhere and leave you winded.   It's true. 

I think the sudden death of a friend is more like a tsunami - it hits without warning.  I've experienced that recently.

But buried grief - that's different.  Grief that was buried years, even decades, ago - that requires a deliberate walk out into the breakers.   

I've been avoiding the breakers, avoiding getting dumped and potentially drowning - in grief.  But twice yesterday two trusted friends, who are familiar with grief and how it works, assured me that there is calmer water beyond those first tumultuous waves, that it's worth pushing through, not turning back.  

So, once again I'm given a choice to put my hand in the righteous right hand that offers to hold me up, the hand that belongs to Someone very strong, Someone very familiar with grief but also stronger than the waves.   

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..."  Isa 43:1-2

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isa 41:10

Once again He calls me to push through the pain for the joy set before me, just like He did.    

So it's time to face full on the grief of losing 14 babies to miscarriage, over about 18 years, and to follow Him through the breakers of the grief that threatens to overwhelm me.    I have some trusted friends cheering me on, like the witnesses of Hebrews chapter 11.  

But the only One who can really get me through this is Him and it's time to trust Him who has been faithful many times already.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defence; He has become my salvation.’    Isa 12:2

This song has been on repeat lately.  

I will trust where You lead 

I will trust when I can't see............

I will trust with all my heart

You are good, You always are

Morning by morning

Great is Your faithfulness to me

All fear be reminded

My future is secure

My Father has spoken

And He keeps His every word