I’ve been reading a lot in the Old Testament lately. The more I read, the more I realize that even though these events happened thousands of years ago, the problems people faced then are still relevant to problems we face today. Have you ever found yourself in a season of life so overwhelming, it felt as though you were sinking? The waves keep crashing against your spirit, and you’re treading water with just enough strength to keep your head above the surface. In these moments, it’s easy to believe that maybe God has forgotten you…..or worse, maybe He sent you into the deep just to watch you drown.
But what if the deep waters aren’t meant to destroy you? What if they are meant to cleanse you?
I want to offer some encouragement today for troubled times. Sometimes, God may lead us into difficult seasons of life not to punish us, but to purify. This has been a thought that has given me hope in some of my darkest times in life. While we desire to walk on calm shores, it’s often in the storms that God does His deepest work.
The Waters Are Not Meant to Drown You
Let’s start there. Because when you’re going through tough times… job loss, heartbreak, illness, betrayal, grief… it can feel like you’re being destroyed. It’s natural to want to cry out, like the psalmist in Psalm 69:1, ‘Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.’
This prayer is a prayer spoken out of desperation. But read it again, and you’ll notice the psalmist calls out to God! He still knows who to turn to in his moment of desperation. Yes, the waters are high, but God is still near.
We often think that if we are faithful, God will keep us from hardship. But Scripture tells it differently. God doesn’t promise to keep us from every storm… He promises to go through the storm with us. Remember Shadrack, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the book of Daniel in the fiery furnace? Of course. (I’ll write about that too). But God didn’t save them from the fire….He sent them IN THE FIRE and He was right there with them. Isaiah 43:2 reminds us, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.’
Notice the wording…when you pass through the waters, not if. Deep waters are going to happen in this life. Jesus told us we would have troubles in this world. But the promise is that God is with us. You are not alone, even when it feels like no one sees your struggle.
Cleansing
So what’s the purpose of these deep waters? Why would a loving God allow us to be plunged into such trials? I don’t have all the answers and will not try to pretend I do. When I read Scripture, I always ask “how is this speaking to me and how do I apply it to my life.”
To understand this, we have to realize that cleansing…real, cleansing… often involves discomfort. Think about baptism. It’s symbolic, but it carries a powerful message. You are buried with Christ in the water and raised to walk in a new life (Romans 6:4). Water here represents death to the old self and emergence into something new, something purified. In the same way, times of suffering can act like a baptism. It’s in the deep waters where sin, lifestyle we are living, or things we are going through are stripped away. Pride, complacency, bitterness, and fear…they all start to loosen their grip when we feel more dependent on God for our next breath.
It’s tempting to think of pain as punishment, but sometimes it’s the tool God uses to mold us. I consider the book of James the ‘Proverbs’ of the New Testament. James 1:2-4 says, ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’
Trials are not a sign of God’s absence. In fact, they’re often the evidence of His work in your life.
Jesus in the Storm
Let’s not forget that even Jesus faced storms. The Gospels tell an event in Matthew 14 where the disciples are out on a boat in the middle of a terrible storm. Jesus approaches them walking on the water. At first, they think He’s a ghost. But Jesus speaks to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’
Peter, scared and uncertain, says, ‘Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.’ Jesus says, ‘Come.’ And Peter steps out onto the sea. He actually walks on water. But then the wind distracts him, fear takes over, and he begins to sink. (One key point no one really brings up is the courage of Peter. Out of the 12 in the boat, he was the only one willing to step out on the water through faith). Peter doesn’t drown. Jesus reaches out and saves him. Even when you feel you’ve failed, when fear consumes your faith, Jesus is still near enough to reach out and grab you.
The Beauty of Being Refined
Hard times bring clarity. Deep waters force us to let go of what we thought we needed and cling to what we truly do: God’s love, His presence, His promises. God wants to be involved in your life. It can be easy to stray away. Sometimes bad things happen to make you realize that we need to depend on God.
Just like a jeweler refines gold by fire, God often uses challenges to refine our character. The impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed away, leaving behind something stronger, purer, more reflective of His image. Yes, the process hurts. It’s uncomfortable and often painful. But it’s also beautiful. God doesn’t waste anything, not a single tear. Psalm 56:8 says, ‘You have collected all my tears in your bottle.’ Every tear you’ve cried in your season of deep waters has been seen and cherished by your Creator.
Encouragement for life’s journey
I write about several topics for my classes. I wanted to share part of this one. If you’re reading this and you’re in a deep water season right now, please know, you are not drowning… you are being cleansed. You are being stripped of brokenness and burdens never meant to be yours. You are being held by the very hand that walked on water. You are being led through, not left in, the waters. Give it to Jesus and He will give you rest.
You may not have all the answers. It may feel confusing or frightening. But God hasn’t abandoned you. Instead, He is preparing you. Making you new. Helping you with compassion, wisdom, and depth you never knew you could carry. Just hold on. Remember, a strong swimmer is not made in still water.
Let the waves teach you to trust, not in your own strength, but in the One who commands the seas. Let the uncertainty grow your faith, knowing that God isn’t scared of your questions or your fear. One day, you’ll sit beside someone else wading through deep waters, and you’ll say, ‘I’ve been there too, and I came out with new life on the other side.’ God will use the hard times you went through to help others. God does not abandon, He restores. He does not destroy, He transforms. He certainly does not drown His children…. He cleanses them. Though the waters may be deep, the hands holding you are deeper still and they will never let go.
My prayer for you:
If you find yourself going through troubles today, say this prayer:
‘Lord, I feel like I’m drowning, but I trust You. Cleanse me, change me, carry me. I surrender to the waters, not in fear, but in faith, believing You are making me new. Walk with me. Be my strength, and remind me that I am not alone. Amen.’
God isn’t through with you yet. The waters won’t sweep you away. They are cleansing you for something wonderful to come. God bless !
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