Everything Lives Where the River Goes

I woke up with the sun rising, and climbed the steep staircase leading onto a wooden platform, that overlooked the Sipi Falls valley. 

“Again He measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. He said “Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.” Ezekiel 47:5,6. I thought about the Lord leading Ezekiel through the river in a vision – taking him through waters that rose first to his ankles, then to his knees, after to his waist and finally to waters too deep and strong to stand in. However, Ezekiel trusted the Lord, as he followed Him through those waters; and God was continually before him; He wouldn't leave him.

Moreover, God showed him the life which grew by the riverbank of that river- “all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”It was through those rivers of water that food grew - fresh, satisfying and fulfilling; moreover, there was healing.

I thought of something Katie Davis had once spoke about: Many people believe that God won't give more than they can handle. I disagree. I think God often gives us more than we can handle, so we learn to be dependent on Him. He leads us step by step, into deeper waters, never leaving us, yet asking us to be dependent on him. We have to look to Him for strength and guidance because we can't manage the situation by ourselves. Then by leaning on Him, we find that He is our strength and guide - The one that will lead into deeper waters than we can forge, ask us to trust Him, and He will take us through.

When we have faith and trust in God to lead us deeper, we are open to God's incredible power working through our lives. It's in these waters, where the fruit of our works grows. We are fed and satisfied. There is healing. We are renewed and daily sanctified.

It takes obedience. Perhaps like Daniel who “set upon his heart” that he would obey God, no matter the risk of going contrary to the King's orders. It takes faith. Maybe like Katie, who moved to Uganda and daily relies on God for wisdom and provision in raising 13 girls. It takes trust. Perhaps like Ezekiel, who followed the Lord through the waters. It takes surrender. Like the widow who gave every last coin to further the House of God.

We sing so many songs in church, some lifting up hands, but what about hearts? We sing “I surrender”, we praise with “Everything I have is yours”, but do we live the words? It's more popular to sing and talk about “walking on the water”, but what about diving into water that is over our heads...

I follow a God who deserves my obedience. I know I can have faith in a God who's faithful. I trust a God who is in all things trustworthy, and I hope that if the water rise, I am willing to let go of myself and hold onto the only One who will bring me through.