Day 473 - October 1 - Deep Water

Cherié told me something the other day that a friend had said to her, and it got me thinking. This friend had told Cherié that she didn't want to go into the troubles she was facing at home, because compared to ours they were so minor.

Now, I object to that on a bunch of different levels. First, we are faced with our troubles day in and day out. Sometimes it's really quite a break to be able to not face them for a few minutes, even if it's just to hear of someone else's. Second, we're supposed to help carry each other's burdens - how can we do that if nobody tells us what they are? Finally, while there are certainly different scales or sizes of the trials that come our way (broken lamp vs. broken car vs. broken marriage vs. broken neck, for example), I think there are really only two categories of troubles, when it comes down to it - the troubles you can handle, and the troubles you can't. All the other differentiations don't really mean much. Yeah, a broken car is bigger than a broken lamp, but you can deal with both of them. Buy a new lamp. Call AAA. Those are manageable things. The big ones, like this one we are going through, are the ones that draw peoples' attention. They're also the ones that you can't handle.

So basically, it's a lot like swimming. When you're in the water, you can either touch the bottom or you can't. If you can, then you can pretty much stay in the water as long as you like. Once you're out in deep water, though, your resources become much more limited. Dealing with Connor's situation is a big problem; and I at least would say it's bigger than, say, losing a job or having difficulties in a marriage. But those are big problems all own their own to those who are going through it, and going through them must be a difficult thing. Those, like ours, fall into my "can't handle them" category.

So what I guess I'm trying to say this morning is this - if the water is over your head, it doesn't really matter how deep it is. Deep is deep is deep - you're in as much trouble in ten feet of water as you are in 1000. And just like when you're in deep water, there's really only one thing you need when you're in deep trials - you need a Lifeguard. Someone with massive skills and resources you don't have to rescue you from a situation that you can't handle. Sure, you can swim for a while in deep water, trusting on your own strength. But what happens when your strength fails you? What happens when you tire out? That's why we use what little strength we have to cling with all our might to the strong chest of Jesus Christ, the person who is made strong in our weakness.

So whether you think your own trials are massive or puny, there's a Lifeguard ready and willing to save you out there in the deep water; able to watch and care for you when you can stand in the shallows. He will carry you and your burdens if you let Him.

Connor is sleeping much better these days, thanks to your intervention for him. Last night we did have to struggle with his body temperature, after he went hypothermic and his temp dropped to 94.4 F. Fortunately we were able to get it back up again with a liberal application of warmed sheets and electric blankets. Thanks, Lord, for technology to make some things manageable, and for people who care enough to keep praying for us. Bless them and hear their prayers, Lord. Hear the cries of Your people.

Oh, and can we go back to shore now, Lord? I don't like deep water.

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