Drowning doesn’t look like drowning…

I was working on a website for swim lessons and came across some information about pool safety that caught my attention.

 
When someone is struggling in water to get their head above the surface for a breath… they could very well look like they are playing in the water and not struggling at all…
but, the truth of the matter is – they are deeply struggling.
In fact, they are drowning.

Drowning doesn’t look like drowning.

We can go through life aware of those around us…
Maybe even asking how someone is as we pass them at church or in the grocery store.
Sometimes we get the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee with someone…
and it looks like they are playing in the water and not struggling in this journey of life at all.
But, when we look closer… when we really pay attention,
we see they are really drowning.

Or maybe you are on the other end…
hoping someone will notice that you aren’t goofing off even though you easily put on a show that everything is alright…
But, the truth is… you are barely keeping your head above water…
praying someone will pay attention.

Drowning doesn’t look like drowning.

I think it is easy to go through this adventure of life acting like we have it all together. I was thinking about my own life and how I tend to do this.

If I’m honest, I’m not so sure I am looking to appear like I have ‘it’ all together… but, I do have a desire to want to look ‘strong’.
I want to reflect the ‘strength’ that I long to have inside of me.

A friend reminded me that it is this weakness that is beautiful.
It isn’t MY strength that I need to reflect… it is MY weakness.

It is MY UGLY.

And He makes it…

HIS BEAUTIFUL.

Here’s the thing…
and I am completely convinced of this…
We have to share our stories.
We have to share the real stuff.

If we don’t share the ugly… we can’t share the beautiful.

When we share our story…
others feel safe to share their own story…
and we find that these stories are beautiful.

Not only that – but, we get to be blessed to walk this journey together.

We get to arise and sing together and watch the transformation of our ugly,
my ugly… to His beautiful.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction
so that we may be able to comfort those who are
in any affliction with the comfort with which
we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NASB

Were you encouraged here?

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