Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear

His Living Water Flows

I could hear the roar of rushing water, but I was stuck behind a solid concrete wall that blocked me. I could see an opening further down the barrier, so I walked toward it. At the break in the divider, I could see that it was as if someone took a maze of concrete walls and put them into a giant river. Difficult decisions were ahead. Did I go forward and around the wall to be overcome by the rushing water and forced downstream, or against all odds did I try to go upstream? I had a deep foreboding that whatever decision I made, it was critical for survival and vital in my walk with the Lord. What did He want me to do?

On one hand, if I went around the wall immediately, the water would move me quickly downstream to an unknown destination, but was that the plan? When I looked further down the river, I saw that there were four possible paths the concrete maze created for me to choose or crash into.

Not only was there an immediate decision, but apparently there would be more to make.

Confusion and worry flooded my mind. These decisions were crushing me.

There were too many difficult outcomes to weigh. How would I know at each turn if I’d made the right choice?

Impossible

“Lord, help me make this decision to go up or down the river, and to navigate each turn. I’m scared.”

“No, what you see is the living water flowing from the throne room of God. It cannot be controlled, manipulated or understood to the point of choosing correctly. The maze you see is a lie.”

Peace flooded me.

“You are seeing things incorrectly. Your assumptions are false.”

Then we flew high into the air and looked over the river. The frightening maze looked like a few fallen branches in a vast river, so large I could not see the other side. The roar of the rushing water pounded my heart.

“The obstacles you see are false. Each decision you make, I am there with you if you choose to include Me. There is no fear. The goodness of the Father, the blessing and the favor that flows from Me cannot be controlled or understood by human minds.

Do not fear. Your decisions cannot stop the flow of living water.”

***

“The River of Life

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Rev 22:1-5, ESV)

We can’t manipulate God or bargain for His favor. Our safest life choice is for complete and immediate obedience. His love for us is always the greatest outcome, whatever circumstances we face.

I don’t know about you, but I find it comforting that my life decisions cannot stop the will of God. I feel silly when I have to admit that somehow, I forget His sovereign will can obviously cover my life choices, and that He can help me out of my messes when I humble myself and ask for help.

Do not fear. Let His living water flow over you.

Prayer for you and me: Lord, forgive me for when I assume that every life decision is on me and that I must do it alone. Your wisdom is readily available, and there is no end to Your goodness. I’m sorry for when I forget what a loving Father you are when I see the obstacles in my life instead of Your goodness. Help me to always be in immediate and complete obedience to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.