At the edge of the water, she stands, gazing out upon the endless horizon. The steps she has taken thus far have brought her right up to the shoreline, where the ground beneath is no longer solid, and she feels herself starting to sink just a little, for the dry land to which she is accustomed to walking feels less stable. With the sand and the water mixing together, the current begins to flow towards her, lapping over the tops of her feet. Even though this rush of low waves has only covered a small fraction of her being, there is a sense of elation which rises inside her as the tide rolls in, washing over her ankles. It’s gentle surge, like a whisper, is calling out to her with words held in a reassuring tone, encouraging her to come further in, that all will be well if she decides to go deeper.
Holding onto the dream of something more, she looks over the vast waters before her. Not seeing any shape of dry land off in the distance, she wonders if going farther would be wise at this point in time. Uncertainty tries to dissuade her from stepping into the current, telling her this is an imprudent decision, for how can she know if this Voice is to be trusted, when there is nothing but an immeasurable expanse before her, with no evidence of a safe harbor nearby in close enough proximity to provide shelter just in case conditions become more than choppy.
As she continues to stare off into the distance, she imagines what it would be like if she took another step forward, or threw caution aside, and simply dove in, letting the tide determine her heading, dictate the way she should go. Would she survive? Surely there would be perilous times ahead, occasions to encounter the fierce surge of rough seas, brought in by tempestuous weather, with an unpredictable outcome that could leave her stranded, like some castaway on a deserted island, or even worse, be found sinking to the bottom, unable to catch a breath, as if drowning.
While each of these unfavorable scenarios run through her thoughts, the Voice calls out to her again, as if carried on the cool breeze, urging her to step out, filling her with an inexplicable peace of knowing her true destiny lies out beyond the sea, and can only be found if she is willing to leave her certain security, give up the haven of self-protection, and move out into the open. With only one guarantee, a single promise given when she heard the Voice speak, saying with an adamant quality, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Put your trust in Me!”
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2