Floatin’

We have seen a lot of flooding and swelling of rivers with recent monsoon rains. I was sitting by the river just out of town and noticed many clumps of water lilies jutting out of the fast flowing, murky water. It didn’t interest me much until about half an hour later when I realized that these clumps were slowly moving down the river. They were not anchored to the ground, straining to keep their heads above water, as they seemed. They were actually floating and slowly but surely making their way downstream, to be re-planted again somewhere else. I thought that was quite an exciting mission for the little water lilies, having been used to quiet river-side inlets and suddenly thrust into raging waters, to be re-planted downstream where the river deposited them.

And then I noticed that some of the clumps were doing better than others. One little clump I noticed could barely be seen, it was mostly submerged, with just a few leaves above the surface. It would still complete its mission but I imagine it would be a bit worse for wear at the other end. The most successful clump was a large mass of lilies in the middle of the river. Because there were many lilies sticking together, the buoyancy created lifted them all right out of the water and they were floating effortlessly downstream.

We all have an exciting mission like those little water lilies. God doesn’t just want us to stay in our quiet little lives, or our comfortable friendship groups, our successful ministries or even our secure financial situations. When the Spirit moves, he wants us to “let go and let God” and, relying totally on him, be replanted where he wants us. You might feel a tad scared at that prospect, in fact, if it’s happening to you, you might feel submerged, maybe like you are sinking, but he has a plan, and he knows exactly where he is taking you.

There might be some others you need to pick up on the way, a new colony to start or join, or some new ground to strengthen your roots. If you are willing to go on this journey, there are a couple of things you can do.

Make sure you are growing and have your roots firmly “abiding in the vine” (John 15).
Join together with others for mutual prayer and support (Hebrews 10:24)
And trust God to lead you to where he is working. (Jeremiah 29:11)

In my first month as a new pastor’s wife in a small town I have occasionally felt a tad submerged and that’s ok. All I have to do is rely on Him, and with lots of prayer, Ill be sure to find my place in this new colony, just where He wants me. And Ill be excitedly on the lookout for any seedlings along the way 🙂

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If anyone remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” John 15:5

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11