I know what you are thinking, why in the world is Zoe about to talk to us about water. It may sound weird but water is a huge part in my walk with Christ.
The first Christian song that really had me shook up and crying was the song Oceans by Hillsong. It was my senior year of high school aka my world was falling apart. It felt as though I was literally drowning in school work. As the youth band played that night I began to weep in my own tears and ask God to really help me in this time of need. I realized it is His air I breathe and I do not need to drown He can save me.
About a year or so later the youth group and young adults group met up for a combination worship night. As we sang the song How He Loves a girl named Kayli (also going on this mission) spoke of how she loved the line in the song “If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.” She explained how God takes something as horrible as drowning and makes life out of it. This opened my eyes. I want to drown in God’s grace, I want to be flooded with His love. I know He loves me, through all the pain and the hurt that life throws God restores times ten.
This last year I was blessed to be able to go on my second mission trip to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. This place means the world to me as this is the place I gave my life to Christ but, that story will just have to wait. I was part of Vacation Bible School and I was able to bring the love of Christ to so many children in this town. It was the last day of VBS so we had planned on playing a bunch of games and giving the children a day to remember. This day had to be all rearranged when we looked outside and it was pouring down rain. We prayed so much for the rain to just go away but it was not going anywhere. When we got to the sight the Children were standing outside waiting for us. Seeing their faces light up to see that we were still there rain or shine just amazed me. These children were not going to let this rain stop them from all the fun we were soon to have. We all ran under this huge tree and immediately started to listen to the bible story of the day. As it came time for worship and we realized we could not bring a speaker into the rain to listen to the music, we became panicked. Suddenly I started to sing “Suuuuubmerged” This was one of the biggest hits of VBS and the children all began to sing. We then found ourselves all dancing and singing in the rain. We honestly looked like crazy people but there was not a single thing on our mind besides our savior. The word submerged means “descend below the surface” and that is what we did that day we went below the surface of Gods amazing love. This taught me so much but one thing I will always take away from it is to never have doubt. When the enemy comes to drown you, learn to dance in it.
This same year I was baptized in the water and cleaned with His blood. Water amazes me now. In every body of water, I look at I see Jesus carrying me. Go outside today and look at the weather God has given you. May it be rain, snow, or breezy winds, open your heart and listen. “Finding God does not mean building a house in a land of no storms, but building a house that no storm can destroy.”
Thank you for reading, blessings!
P.s. check out a great friend of mine
from church that helped me start this adventure! http://kayliharshbarger.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=bio
