The Unknown

 Into the Water

Often on our walk with God, we find ourselves beside what our eyes may perceive as the abyss. A place where we begin to lose touch with our purpose, reality, and faith. Often, we do not even realize that this is where we are. We have begun to move on autopilot until we suddenly find ourselves moving through a dense fog. Nothing can be seen and even our feet are not visible; just fumbling forward.

Have you been here? In this fog? 

Have you ever awoken in this place and felt the agony of loss, loss of contact with the ground in which you stood?

I once had the pleasure to prepare a sermon on the topic of faith and would like to share this once more with you. Now, I am a very visual person, so please follow along with me as I depict a journey through the fog.

Waters/mist in Zambia

"At some point the abyss pulls you close and for a time that you do not know, you wander. Detached, but still moving forwards. When suddenly, you blink your eyes and you realize you don't know where you are; or rather, you notice you are in a fog on unknow terrain. You can barely see your hands but your feet are not visible."

"You pause and sensation begins to return to your body and your spirit gains strength. You are still lost, but now you are awake. All you can see is white, but you instinctively begin to gain an awareness of the direction you are to go. So, you begin to move; first tentatively, then slowly with more confidence, and soon you are bolting in this direction."

"You are moving and the fear that was paralyzing at first fades away. As it fades, so does the fog."

"Before you know it, you are stepping onto a shoreline, sand goes between your toes and all of the horizon is visible at last! You breath in the fresh air and take comfort in escaping the fog. But as your instincts take you towards the water you pause. The water calls you in, but this is a new unknown."

This fog can be anything that suddenly becomes a burden in our lives. Like a cloud that has condensed, it comes down heavy upon us in the darkness, making us cold and wet and burdened. But with the sun rising high in the sky, the cloud evaporates, everything becomes white, and the burden is soon lifted. 

No matter our strength or self-awareness, we can find ourselves on these islands of doubt, depression, and tedious lack of life. But no matter our situations, God wants to bring us out of this place and back into His presence. Imagine that Jesus is that rising sun, that He is the one who used His light to draw that darkness towards himself and to relive you of that burden. It is then, that the Holy Spirit that is within you, leads you towards the waters, where God wishes to reveal a new island where you will find prosperity.

You have been freed of the burden that was once upon you and have reached the end of this dark land. But now you face a decision that only you can make. Do you choose to trust the Spirit who led you out of the darkness and go into the water, or do you stay where you perceive it is currently safe, risking the calling of the abyss. Risking this freedom and instead turning back to the inner island where the fog will return and your salvation is wasted; until the next opportunity to draw you out arises again.

For all of us the journey through the fog is different. For some it is a short period of confusion or transition, for others it is a long and painful season. But the truly testing part of this journey, is the arrival on the shore. Where our feet meet water. This is where faith is practiced and tested.

"On the surface the water is calm, but you cannot see what is below. You know not the currents, the creatures, the temperature, the texture of what lay just at the tip of your toes. Fear, you are afraid, almost more so than of the fog. In the fog lay nothing; in the water, lay everything."

"Your soul cries out to make contact with the water; you know it is where you must go. You know, you know, you know! Then you understand, and despite the fear, you move your foot forwards, into the unknown."

Waters in France

This here is faith. Going forwards despite our trepidation. Like a child who is meeting an animal for the first time, despite the caution and fear, they trust their parents and put their hands forwards. The experience that our heavenly father has for us can only be know if we express our trust through action. 

What happens next is fully a person's personal experience. 

Maybe you spent much time on the island debating before taking that step forwards. Maybe the choice was easy. Maybe you pray and God sends a boat to help you through the process so you do not have to go any further than ankle deep. For some, the process could be frightening all the way until your head goes bellow water and you then see the world of wonder below the surface. Some may even find that what looked like an ocean to swim across was just a simple stream. Or you find that you just needed a bath before going right back inland to help pull others out.

Faith leads us to places we could never imagine. To a life that is worth having lived. It is never too late to trust God and the direction He desires to lead you. 

Waters in Israel

I myself have had this experience. I personally found myself wading through the water and following the current for 6 years before he led me to an island filled with wonder. I knew where I was going as soon as I put my toes in the water, but I knew not the journey it would become. 

The abyss called out to me a few times through the process, but my trust in God gave me the strength to continue swimming. Once I arrived, I went on a 10-month journey to 7 new countries and gained a map with a few short hops to the next island He has for me in my life. 

I am not afraid of the abyss. I am not afraid of the water.

I only fear what happens if I don't hear His voice and jump in.

My personal prayer for myself through that Journey, was that "May my will, reflect His will for my life."

Ephesians 5:8-14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

    rise from the dead,

     and Christ will shine on you.”

May God bless you all and may you find prosperity in your lives.

This has been Lillyana Walking with God.