are you gasping for air?

Recently the Lord spoke to me very clearly. I scrambled for the notes section of my phone at 3:07am to write down these words that appeared on my lips:

"When you walk through the waters, I will be with you."

I couldn't not have been more certain this was God speaking directly to me. And I could not have been more confused as to why He was telling me these particular words.

But walk through the waters I did.

What I didn't know at the time was that I was about to go through a pretty difficult season in my life. It wasn't until weeks later - until after I had entered into this unforeseen difficult season - that I stumbled across the following verse:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." - Isaiah 43:2 

When I read these words, I was so reassured that it was God speaking to me in my dream that night, telling me something I needed to hear even before I knew I needed to hear it. 

While I was sleeping, He was working. 

He's just that good. He's just that faithful. He will find a way to reassure us, to guide us, to speak to us... even while we are sleeping.

"For God does speak - now one way, now another - though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears..." - Job 33:15-16 

I was about to enter the waters. Maybe you are, too. Maybe you've found yourself there in past. Maybe you're there now...

In a difficult season of life... maybe you have lost your job, maybe your health has been compromised, maybe you are struggling in a relationship... maybe all of the above.

Sometimes it can feel like the waters are rising over our heads, like we are on our tip toes gasping for air. Sometimes it just may seem like it's all too much and we are going to be swept away.

But our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And His promise in that verse in Isaiah stands true today. So remember, friend: whatever waters through which you are walking, they will not sweep over you.

"Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." - Psalm 32:6-7

What blessed reassurance. Our feet may fail, but His will not.

"You call me out upon that waters

the great unknown where feet may fail... 

But I will call upon Your name 

and keep my eyes above the waves. 

When oceans rise 

my soul will rest in Your embrace, 

for I am Yours 

and You are mine." 

- Hillsong, Oceans