Fish out of Water

I grew up with my grandparents being within 3 blocks of my house my entire childhood.  They had a pool and I had parents who loved to swim, so I naturally began swimming when I was very young.  I was a fish out of water!

I'll never forget the first times my Dad and Mom tried teaching me how to float.  I could swim like a little fish and I knew many different strokes, but floating was a different story.  When I was told to lay on my back and 'relax' or 'just trust us, we won't let you sink'.....I freaked out!  As I would begin to feel like I was sinking, I would revert to what had worked before.  I'd splash my arms and legs around until I found myself in an upright position!  To stay afloat and alive in the water, I had always actively done SOMETHING!  So, how silly did it seem to expect to stay above the water when I did NOTHING?!?!

The idea of floating on my back didn't even make sense.  I didn't seem to be good at it.  It seemed boring.  What was the point?  I didn't move or go anywhere!  Why would anyone WANT to learn this?

Yet, Dad and Mom insisted that I become a proficient floater.
"Just relax....I'll have my hands right under you!"
"Trust me, Jennifer....I will be right here."
"Try not to move your arms or legs,  just slow down your body and breathing."
"Let's keep practicing..."

Thankfully, my parents were patient and knew what was best for me!  After a lot of training, I could actually float!  I started to notice things differently than I had when I actually swam.  I became aware of the clouds, the sky, the birds.....how the clouds moved at unique speeds, how bright the sun was and how warm it felt.  The contrasting types of birds.  The shape of the walnut trees in my grandparents yard.  The distinct way the wind made the branches and leaves move.  The way the water felt against my skin when I moved only slightly.  It seemed so strange to hear both the sounds that echoed under the water and the crisp noises above it, simultaneously!

There was something very valuable to resting on the water....I felt refreshed.  Floating seemed invaluable if I ever got into a pinch in deep water.   How bizarre that I'd spent so much time in the water and yet never experienced the world in this light!  How could something so physically idle, bring about such an mental alteration?

Maybe this could shed some light on the verse Psalm 46:10.  "Be still, and know that I am God…"
If we don't move, how can we be productive?  If we don't work, how can we attain? Yet, repeatedly, the Bible shows our need to just REST in Gods presence.  In Luke 10:38-42, there's the story of Mary and Martha who are hanging out with Jesus.  Mary is hanging, but Martha is working.  Martha is annoyed with Mary for just sitting around listening to Jesus while she ran around "distracted with the day's preparations." Sounds familiar.  I'd be annoyed with Mary.  And how does Jesus reply?  "Mary has chosen what is better."  Como se what?!  Sounds pretty ridiculous to me!

Strangely enough, God has had me in the LONGEST season of 'being still.'  What if He truly is sovereign, even if it doesn't feel like it?  What if He truly loves me more than I can comprehend? What if, like my parents, He knows something special that He wants to share with me?  Is it possible that something incredible could come from ME doing nothing and HIM doing everything?  Instead of me laying back, kicking and screaming, fighting to be upright...what kind of blessing could come if I just trust God's hands to hold me as I rest in Him?