Let The Waters Rise

This song has meant so much to me recently.

Several years ago I had a revelation moment come to me. I was on the back of a motorcycle. We had been riding all day with good friends of ours. I was exhausted and trying not to fall asleep on the back of this motorcycle for fear that I might just fall off. We were just around the corner from our home and I was trying to hang on just a few more minutes. I don't know exactly what triggered the thought, except that for me, those rides when we would roam all the beautiful back roads made me feel so close to God - seeing all His beautiful creation and being amazed at His awesomeness (for lack of a better word).

As we rounded the corner just before our neighborhood the thought came to me that God is not as concerned about my comfort as He is with my character. In fact, if He has to choose between my comfort and building my character He will choose to make me uncomfortable every time.

Why? Is He being cruel? Does He take pleasure in my pain? No. Because our character is what lasts and is what draws us closer to Him. He longs to be near us but He will never force Himself on us. Comfort doesn't last and most of the time, we're unwilling to move or change when we're comfortable.

So since that very first acknowledgment of such an idea I have dealt with this head on in life situations. I've come to realize in further searching that life is uncomfortable and sometimes even downright painful. I don't like this and as all human beings, my natural tendency is to fight it. I like being comfortable, I like everything being the way I want it to be. But I am beginning to see that embracing this idea and allowing God to perform his perfect work in us is actually the better way. And I'm also finding that in surrendering to this that we are met there with His peace and joy even in the midst of life's storms. Just because we meet Him there doesn't mean the storm goes away every time, it simply means He will help us to get through it and He WILL be our deliver.

I like the imagery that is portrayed when iron is refined in a fire. It couldn't be molded or shaped or made into the tool the craftsman needs it to be without first going through the fire.

This song just reminds me, when I want to fight God's refining process, to surrender and trust Him - let the waters rise if you want them to, God I trust You.