Set 

The invitation from my family to join its triathlon relay team scared me. Okay, I was petrified. Nervously, I analyzed the situation in my mind. My dad is an avid cycler, so he will take the biking portion. My sister is a great runner, so surely, she will run. This, then, leaves the (dreaded) swim to me. Here’s the catch—I’m not a swimmer. The farthest thing from it, actually. Oh, and the swim is an open water competition in Lake Michigan.

For some reason, I said yes.

Over the course of a year, I desperately tried to learn how to competitively swim. Training ramped up intensity a few weeks prior to the triathlon with several practice sessions in Lake Michigan. To my dismay, it didn’t go well. Unlike a pool, the lake was cloudy and forbade me to see through my goggles. And only 52 degrees. And wavy. And I didn’t know what I was doing. The only thing that sustained me was the constant eye of my dad who walked the beach while in order to ensure my safety. Quick glances to the shore provided momentary relief. He was there, but he wasn’t close.

Maybe you’ve felt the same way about God. You know that His presence is with you, but to be frank, you don’t feel that He is close. He seems far away, as though He’s walking the shore from a distance while keeping an eye on you.

After another lousy lake training session, a drastic change was needed. The next day, I invited my dad to walk beside me. No, not on the shore but actually in the water next to me. Only an arm’s length away.

I swam with confidence. My father was near.

I swam with peace. My father won’t let me drown.

I swam with direction. My father will keep me on pace.

I swam with assurance. My father will ensure I finish.

God is ready to dive deeper into your life today—off the shore and into the water. He longs to be present and proximate, walking with you in both difficult waves and smooth waters. Are you ready to invite your Heavenly Father into the water to walk beside you?