In my mind's eye I have this image of a lake. It is set next to a range of smaller valleys and hills. Calm and smooth as a mirror. The time of day must be dusk, because all the colours are fading away and everything is painted in shades of grey. One colour flowing into the next, with only the contrast of dark and light that differentiates shapes. Reflections glimmering on the surface of the water.
The image is tranquil. Calm and soothing.
For some reason I imagine this to be a place where Jesus would be. Maybe from the scene where Jesus was teaching the multitudes at the Sea of Galilee (also called the Lake of Gennesaret). After the crowds have left. So I look for Him on the far shore and for a moment I see a profile in the shadows. But it must be my imagination playing tricks on me. There is no-one there.
Then, totally unexpected, I feel a tender embrace from behind me. And I realise that, even though I don't always see Him, He is always there. Carrying me through whatever my situation is. With tender love and support.
I will call upon your name. Keep my eyes above the waves. My soul will rest in your embrace. I am Yours and You are mine. (Oceans, Hillsong United)
You may have noticed that this song is of special significance to me (for reasons not completely known to me). As I mentioned in my first post about it, trust without borders - part 1 - it touches my spirit. Every time I listen to it, it seems to give me a new message. A deeper meaning.
So, quite understandably, when they gave this song special attention during the opening ceremony of the recent Hillsong Colour Conference in Cape Town, which I had the priveledge of attending earlier in April - I was elated. Overcome by emotion.
I thought that it was beautiful and special and awesome. But I didn't make much more of it. I didn't read a deeper meaning into it. Or think that it had special significance for me. At the time, I thought that it was pure coincidence.
As I mentioned in my post Your grace is enough, I just recently read the book The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer. So I was really excited to learn that Priscilla was to be one of the guest speakers at Colour. I couldn't wait to hear her speak!
As I mentioned in my post Your grace is enough, I just recently read the book The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer. So I was really excited to learn that Priscilla was to be one of the guest speakers at Colour. I couldn't wait to hear her speak!
On Day 2 of Colour, I was waiting with great anticipation to listen to Priscilla's message, which was to be the opening for the day. She has a gift for using the ordinary, everyday and turning it into extraordinary examples of God's work in our lives. She also has a gift for bringing the characters and scenes from the Bible to life.
The theme of her message on that day was something to the extent of this - Fishing is not supposed to be this hard. It was based on the story of Simon and his failed fishing expidition, from the following scripture in Luke 5:1-7 (NKJV):
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
Although there was much more to her message, this is what stood out for me:
God is not shocked by our lives. He knows all about it. He is sovereign - afterall. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
Sometimes He allows the difficulty. He allows the emptiness and the disappointment. Because that allows room for Him.
Deep water doesn't make any sense to us. We don't want to go through it. It goes against all our experience. But the miracle only happened when Simon was willing to go into the deep. Shallow water is for the masses, but the deep... That is for me (and for you). Through the deep waters of faith, God is setting us up to be stunned. To be speechless. To be overwhelmed. That is where he performs His miracles. And that is the platform where He will use you for His glory.
Isn't that an awesome thought?
If you have read my second post about this song Oceans, trust without borders - part 2 - you will know that this confirms so many things for me. Because to a large extent, this is exactly what I was writing about in that post. Weeks before Colour.
At this point, I am already quite emotional. Until - in conclusion to Priscilla's message - Hillsong United starts playing... Guess what? Oceans, off course!
Wow!!! That is a little too much coincidence for it to be merely just that. Coincidence...
At this point, I am already quite emotional. Until - in conclusion to Priscilla's message - Hillsong United starts playing... Guess what? Oceans, off course!
Wow!!! That is a little too much coincidence for it to be merely just that. Coincidence...
I am stunned. I am speechless. I am overwhelmed.
Our God works in amazing and mysterious ways.
So don't give up when life is hard. Don't give up when you are struggling. When you are not catching any fish. Hang in there a little longer. Launch out into the deep. And listen for His voice. Obey His command. Because that is where all the fish are. That is where your nets will break from the overflow. That is where we meet Jesus. Where we get to see His miracles.
Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me.You've never failed and You won't start now.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Saviour.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Saviour.
It's all about Grace... mx
