We said goodbye.
Again.
A few years ago we stood on the shore and decided to step into the water. And now we find ourselves out in the deep once again. I take a deep breath of spiritual air and hold it as long as I am able.
These are the more difficult goodbyes. Because honestly, we don’t know. We don’t know where they go. We don’t know where they’ll be. We don’t know if we’ll see them again in this life or even the next.
So I pray for faith to trust … to walk out to the deeper waters and let go. The waves are present and very visible. It’s so easy to fear. It’s such a struggle to say “it is well with my soul” and mean it. Only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can provide such peace.
I have heard the majesty and wonder of You.
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow
as Your love, in wave after wave crashes over me, crashes over me.
For You are for us; You are not against us.
Champion of Heaven, You made a way for all to enter in.
I have heard You calling my name; I have heard the song of love that You sing.
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore into Your grace.
You make me brave! You make me brave!
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.
You make me brave! You make me brave!
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way.
No fear can hinder now the promises You made.
And there I find You in the mystery.
In oceans deep, my faith will stand.
Your grace abounds in deepest waters.
Your sovereign hand will be my guide where feet may fail and fear surrounds me.
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.
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.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible
Be strong and brave!
Make sure you are very strong and brave! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do.
I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic …