Psalm 73:28 (NLT)
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Have you ever felt like you're missing out on a deeper experience of knowing God, perhaps unsure of what's holding you back? You might be surprised to know that most people feel the same way when following Jesus.
The Shallow Comfort of Ankle-Deep Faith
I can remember when I was a little boy, before I learned how to swim, going to the beach with my family. I had a blast running as fast as I could through the shallow waters, chasing baby seahorses. Since I didn't know how to swim, I just stayed in the shallows. I would watch my older brothers as they made their way out into the deeper water, knowing that one day I would join them. Occasionally, my oldest brother would grab me as he was going out into the deeper water, as if he were going to pull me out there. I would fight and flail with all my might to get away from him. He would just laugh and let me go. I was afraid of the deep water because I couldn't swim.
Years later, after learning how to swim and maturing a little bit, I had no use for the shallows. There was so much more to experience in the deeper water. The same is true spiritually. Someone can live in the Kingdom of God and experience only the shallow waters of knowing and hearing from God. But Jesus is always going to be leading us into deeper waters, stretching us beyond our comfort zones, and teaching us how to swim in the depths of God's love.
Staying in the shallows of the Kingdom doesn't take much faith. You can enjoy yourself chasing around the baby seahorses, knowing there's something richer and deeper beyond the shallows. While the Holy Spirit is constantly stirring a desire within us to go deeper, the world, the flesh, and the devil work in opposition weighing down our hearts and instilling a fear of going deeper.
The Threat and Treasure of the Deep Waters
Are there threats in the deeper waters of the Kingdom of God? Absolutely! The deeper you go with God, the greater the challenges of spiritual warfare (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12). Make no mistake about it: The deeper you go in your relationship with God, the more of a threat you are to the enemy of your soul. Splashing around in ankle-deep water, you're no threat. But as you mature, grow, and go deeper, you'll have a greater impact on the world around you.
So, if you're splashing around in ankle-deep water today and you're wondering why other Christians are having a deeper, richer experience with Jesus, then understand this: They exercised their faith and chose to go deeper (Matthew 16:24). You may be wondering, “Why should I go deeper if there are greater threats out there?”
There are no threats in the deeper water that are too great for Jesus. He is the King of the Kingdom of God and He has all power and authority over all of creation (Romans 8:37). The key to going deeper is to stay close to Jesus. When you're close to Him, the enemy will flee from you. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7–8, CSB).
The Assurance of Proximity to Jesus in the Depths
When you let go of our fears and decide to go deeper with Jesus, you might wonder, “What if I while I’m going deeper and get farther away from Jesus?” That's impossible. The only way to go into the deeper waters of the Kingdom is through a deeper relationship with Jesus (John 14:6). The deeper waters of the Kingdom lead us into a richer, fuller communion with Jesus.
So, if you feel like you're missing out on a deeper relationship with God, or if God’s voice seems distant and you want to get closer, it’s time to make a change. Right here, right now, as you’re reading this—allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into the deeper waters of the Kingdom (Romans 8:14). Don’t be afraid of the unknown, of the greater threats, just focus on getting closer to Jesus. As you draw close to Jesus, you will become more familiar with the Father’s voice, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It’s in the deeper waters that your faith will be stretched, and that you will have a greater understanding of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is.
Ephesians 3:18–19 (NLT)
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.