Just keep swimming

When my first child was a toddler, she was obsessed with the movie, Finding Nemo. I have seen it more times than I can remember. And as annoying as that movie is to me now, there is a great message taught throughout it. No, I’m not talking about “Fish are our friends, not food!” I’m talking about Dory’s famous phrase, “Just keep swimming!”

There are times in my life when I have hit the proverbial wall. The walls have been in my marriage, with my kids, sometimes in our finances, and my own internal struggles. 

And it’s one thing to hit that wall once. But when you hit the same wall over and over again so your face print is now embedded into that wall, it can be more than frustrating; it can be discouraging and even feel hopeless.

And if, for some reason, you think I have never experienced this, let me reassure you I have. And to be even more vulnerable, I am hitting a wall now with one of our children. I actually said to my husband recently, “It seems like everything we try doesn’t work. I feel so hopeless.”

And yet even in these emotionally depleted seasons, the Word of God that I have spent time planting in my heart over the years springs up inside of me and speaks truth to my doubts and discouragement.

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But don’t be fooled. The enemy of our soul is armed and ready to put his spin our season of waiting, holding, and sowing. He is prepared to speak words of discouragement and loves to put a question mark at the end of God’s promises.

• “Did God really say that?”
• “Does God really care?”

I have determined in my heart that the outcome isn’t my responsibility. That job belongs to God. My job, the part Jesus has asked me to play in this equation, is obedience and perseverance. But in order for me to do this, I have had to make three resolves.

1. Seeds take time to grow, so I must be patient and tend to the seeds.

I have had to come to terms with that fact that I may be sowing bad seed, and unfortunately that seed has to run its course. But the sooner I stop sowing the bad and start sowing the good, the quicker the bad fruit will cease and the good fruit will come to pass. This just takes time, and if I don’t give up, change will come.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

2. God never wastes an opportunity for my growth.

I am a big believer that God is NOT the author of sickness and disease. He is a GOOD FATHER who only gives good gifts to His children. And I am also aware that He is absolutely capable of turning a bad situation into something beautiful. He is a master at doing this. And if I allow Him, every moment of waiting and “trying again” can make me more like Him and stronger than before.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans‬ 5:3-4‬ (NLT)‬‬

3. He is God and knows what is best.

I have had to resolve that I only see in part. My vision and view of my circumstances or the wall that seems to surround me is limited. I am incapable of seeing 100 years into my future and how my decisions today may impact my children, grandchildren, and future generations. But one thing I CAN do is trust God. I can trust in His goodness and faithfulness. He has always been faithful and He is not about to blow His reputation on me. So I must trust Him always, that if I am doing all that I can, He will come through in His timing and in a way that works best for the eternal picture, not just this little snapshot called “my life.”

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)

God’s job is the outcome. Our job is the obedience.

The bottom line is this...there is power in our perseverance! Keep sowing, keep obeying, keep contending, and most of us all…”Just keep swimming!”

Sabrina Schlesinger

Sabrina is a mother to three biological girls and one adopted boy. She is a pastor’s wife, graphic designer, founder of Mom Mentor and the brand new Parenting on the Go Podcast! She resides in beautiful San Diego where the sun shines every day. She prefers chai lattes over coffee, mac-n-cheese over vegetables, and staying in over going out. Check her out on Instagram and Facebook!