Tuesday, January 9, 2018

I'd Rather Sink Than Swim: What it Really Means to be Still and Know


 "Just trying to keep my head above water," used to be my go-to phrase, although it sounds melodramatic, it was the reality of my life.

Never getting ahead.

Going from crisis to crisis.

Just trying to make it through the day.

It was a horrible way to live.

I can't tell you when things changed, but they did. Sometimes, if I'm not careful I still feel like I step back in the water and thrash my arms around, treading the cares of the life, just to keep from drowning. Moving my arms frantically, one in front of the other, just trying to get ahead.

Often when we overcome something and experience similar symptoms again, we think, "I've lost my healing or I'm in bondage again." Be careful! That's what the enemy wants you to think. It could just be a temptation to fall back into an old way of thinking or simply to get you to give up. Always go back to the truth, the Word of God, the Bible.

Fear of my head going underwater seemed like the worst possible fate until recently when I discovered that sinking is the best thing that could happen.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
While reading A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman I discovered it means more than just doing nothing.

Think about being in the water. What would happen if you were completely still? You would float. It evokes a peaceful picture in my mind of relaxing, surrendering and completely trusting. As beautiful as that sounds, it is only a fraction of what "still" in this verse actually means.

Looking closely at the original Hebrew definition (7503, Strong's Concordance), still, a verb, means to sink.
Sink and know that I am God. - Emily P. Freeman
What if I just stop flailing my arms around and sink? Now that's a beautiful picture of surrender.

Another meaning is to fail.
Fail and know that I am God. - Emily P. Freeman
This is where my own study of this verse and this word led me straight to the nature and heart of the Father. Strong's Concordance refers back to another word (7495) rapha', which means to heal. Moses and the Israelites met this God, the Lord who heals you in Exodus 15:26.
...saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
(Sink, fail, heal) and know that I am God.

It leaves me awestruck.

He wants to heal me but, I must sink, I must fail so that I may know He is God (I am not). He never intended for me to do this in my own strength, which explains the exhaustion when "I" try to keep "my" head above water.

I have never thought of healing and failing working together. If I stop "trying to keep my head above water" I will sink, I will fail, but He will heal. It is who He is, Jehovah Rapha, God our healer.

4 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh...I have been patiently waiting for this and it was so worth the wait. I love this and thank you again. Love you beautiful lady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm still in awe of this photo and all that was revealed! Thanks for sharing.

      Delete
  2. Wow. Thank you Mari, for allowing your heart and words to be led of the spirit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sheila! I’m learning to write BRAVE too! So glad we are on this journey together. This encouragement means more then you know. Bless you friend.

      Delete