In Over Our Heads

 

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear that phrase?

To some, "in over our heads" might conjure images of a project you once dealt with and regretted being a part of; others may not be able to relate to this because there's nothing too big for you to conquer - well, then, this story may not hold much interest. But feel free to stick around, because you never know, you just might learn something new.

Those who understand what it feels like to be "in over our heads", may appreciate this more than most.

Have you ever lost something? Have you ever struggled to find an answer to a nagging question? Have ever been brokenhearted? Have you ever had a lingering feeling of doubt, fear, anxiety, or regret? Perhaps that is why you are reading this today.

Let me tell you a little bit about being under the weight of it all. As a toddler, I seemed to get into quite a few predicaments. We would visit our relatives far across the states, where everything was a novelty for me. We didn't have dairy cows or horses, or close family nearby. At my cousin's house, I would wander off apparently, and find trouble in the strangest places. I do not remember all of these, they are just stories from the past to me. One story must have been pretty traumatic, as I didn't even see the connection until I was an adult. 

I have been scared senseless from deep waters because I had almost drowned in the irrigation ditch nearby. I have no idea who found me, who rescued me, or how long I was in there. But the terror was so real, I was paralyzed with fear when I was old enough to take swimming lessons. I could not jump in. As I grew older, it was ok to slowly walk into the waters, but the diving board may as well have been Mt Everest to me. I was able to overcome the fear once in a while if peer pressure was the gamechanger. But I would not willingly invite sheer panic. It didn't lend me any extra confidence when I read the biography of Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a paraplegic from a diving accident. As a teenager, I even subjected myself to fear therapy/suicidal experiments by trying to drown myself. If anyone knew what goes on inside a child's head, they would reconsider how they are teaching them with the unsaid, or even the unintended.

This was too much of a burden for a child to bear, and yet I didn't understand just how heavy it really was. I was way in over my head.

When I became confident enough, I finally learned to float.

I had to let go of the fear and just be in the water. 

Later, I learned to tread water, and instead of just letting go, I had to actively move my arms and legs with my head above the water. Then I learned to swim and actually enjoy being in the water.

Water is now a very peaceful thing, I love to listen to a babbling brook or a crashing waterfall, and of course the pitter-pats of rain on a windowsill. I don't understand why it took so long to come to appreciate the beauty of water all around us.

When you are raised in a Christian home, you would think that everything is easy to understand. But I think it gives more depth to the questions and all of us are simply too human to know everything in every situation. 

We only see a small part of the picture, a limited view of our world. 

Perhaps, because we are all under the surface of the water, we are all in over our heads. 

If the water is our finite, human eyes, and God is just above the surface - sometimes He takes us by the hand and lifts us up so we can see what He sees. 

Then, when we learn to let go, we can learn to enjoy the rivers and streams and know when it is time to crawl in the boat. 

When we are in the water, it may be difficult to get where we need to go, but when we get in the boat (when we acknowledge our need for Him) we can trust the Captain of our ship is taking the very best care of us.

If you are even remotely paying attention in life - you will get blindsided at some point.

You are not in complete control over every detail of your days.

Times will be hard and brighter days will return.                                                                                    

But if you are so far under the current of things that overwhelm you, it is difficult to see the surface from where you are. So, too, in life, we must learn to let go of some things and just be there.     

We can not control everything, and knowing what it is we can control will help us to get where we need to go much easier than fighting against the impossible. 

And you know? If we were able to withstand every storm that came our way all alone, we wouldn't see much need for a Captain to guide our way. The very fact that troubles come along, plans fall through, disappointments, sorrows, and heartbreak knock us down - can be a good thing - it is much like the boat that helps us get out of the water and we are no longer in over our heads.

"I have told you these things so that in Me you will have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world." - John 16:33

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord who has compassion on you." - Isaiah 54:10

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10                                       

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness."    - 2 Corinthians 12:9    

"God is our strength, a very present help in trouble." - Ps. 46:1                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

  "What shall we say then in response to this?If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything." - 1 John 3:19

"This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Phillipians 3:13-14

Keeping my eyes on Jesus and my head above water, 

written by: Sue Leerhoff @BrickbyBrick