Living Water by Gracie Stack

Image: Alan Van Gysen

Growing up, I had a baby blanket hanging over my bed that said "Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not for I am with you". Little did my Grandma know, that this would be the verse that fueled me through life.

The first major hurricane swell, I was allowed to paddle out into, I was in way over my head at 13. There were long beautiful 8-foot barreling waves that lined the beach. After my first attempt, I was on the beach defeated. While my dad, brother and uncle were all out on the outside. Not accepting defeat, I was ready for round two. With every duck dive I repeated, "Fear not, God is with me". I timed the sets and out I was. I only caught one wave that day but the stoke on my face felt like I had the session of my life.

Just like my surf session, sometimes we do fail. We get sent back to the beach, but it is ok. God is with us, even when life is not fair and we get tumbled. In the Bible, it says 365 times to fear not. A verse for each day of the year. As Christians, we are not promised an easy life. I like to think of life as an East Coast, big hurricane swell. The paddle out is never easy, the swell period is short and the waves are unforgiving. Not everyone makes it to the outside but whether you are my dad or myself paddling out, God is with you.

If you are afraid of the outcomes in life, you are not alone. It is why God put in His word, 365 times, to fear not. But as Christians, we are able to give our fear to God. He has already won the battle; His plans are much bigger than our own. He is the beginning and the end; He has your life already planned out. The question is "are you letting Him lead your life?"

Isaiah 43:1-2 "But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you oh Israel, Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."