I’m a scuba diver. It wasn’t something I thought I would ever take up in life, but I have learned that God brings gifts and adventures we never dream of if we let Him. Only 25% of the world’s divers are women. It’s a highly technical sport. But once you master it, well … it’s life-changing.
The underwater world holds treasures and secrets yet to be discovered, truly a world like none other. Its rules and dangers are many, and I am constantly learning something new each time I dive at different locations. Each diver has various personal factors that must be considered. We each weigh different amounts, have different body structures and even our faces are shaped differently, so masks have to be individually designed. It is another reminder that as the Bible says in Psalm 139:14 (ESV), we are each “fearfully and wonderfully made.” “Complex” is how one translation says it.
I have to take it slow going down under the water more than most people because of the shape of my ears. It takes me longer to equalize the pressure that occurs as I descend into the depths. As I sink, I hold my nose and blow out through my ears breathing slow and steady as I keep my eyes open to the unknown environment.
4 Life-Changing Ways You Can Find God’s Treasure in an Ocean of Uncertainty
1. God’s oxygen equalizes you when the pressure of uncertainty mounts. It’s easy to feel panicky over world events and hovering disasters that surround us. Our soul needs to blow it out and breathe in God’s oxygen. God supplies us with life-giving air. My regulator gauge tells me how much air I have while diving. My soul registers within me too, whenever I need more air from God, and He never fails to supply me with His grace and mercy that brings assurance and life.
2. As we descend into the depths of life and the unknown, our eyes must be open. God wants to show us new things and lead us into the unknown. He’s our dive master. The one we keep our eyes on and follow when things are unclear initially, and often scary. He’s the one who is always watching us, too, should we stray and get into trouble.
3. God surrounds us but gives us the control to sink or float. Whenever I dive, I first must strap on a BCD (buoyancy control device) vest. It’s attached to my air tank and has oxygen that flows through it from my air tank to keep me afloat or help me sink. I control how much air I want surrounding me at any given time. In the same way, we need to strap on a vest of prayer and Bible Scriptures. It is the air that feeds our soul. Together, they give us the ability and power to swim in a world that’s full of unknown fish (those slick little guys and sometimes big guys that swim fast) and obstacles that can entrap and devour us.
4. Under the pressure of the water, we can find new treasures. Under that pressure comes new revelations. But we must choose to first dive in. Beautiful things will remain hidden unless we are courageous enough to risk and trust our equipment and preparation, and follow the dive master. God has brilliant treasures just waiting for us to find.
I have had some challenges from time to time on dives. In life, we always will too. The pressure is on today in our economic, political, social and now health worlds. Many of us have ongoing personal family pressures as well. We start to wonder if we’ll ever come up from the depths. The early church had these same kinds of pressures as well. Paul’s letter to Timothy guided them when he said, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7, MEV).
Being under the pressure of the weight of the water reminds me that we will eventually surface and ascend into our heavenly world that God has promised. Until then we must stay alert, equipped and prepared for any and all uncertainties. We need to breathe in the breath of God’s sure and steady air supply, knowing we’re with the “dive master,” our God, Creator King and ultimate guide.
Ready to dive in! {eoa}
Kathleen Cooke is a media executive, actress, speaker, writer and a founding partner and vice president of Cooke Media Group, a media production and consulting company based in Burbank, California. She co-founded the nonprofit organization The Influence Lab, where she leads and mentors Christian professionals in the media industry. She writes a weekly blog, edits the bi-monthly “Influence Women’s Journal” and has authored the devotional Hope 4 Today: Stay Connected to God in a Distracted Culture. Follow Kathleen on Twitter: @KathleenCookeLA, Instagram: @KathleenCookeOfficial, Facebook: Kathleen Cooke Official, website/blog: kathleencooke.com or sign up for her monthly “Influence Women’s Journal” at: Influencelab.com/women.
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