Failed Feet Makes Weak Stronger

I love metaphors! Perfect words woven together to compare something so direct that the answer is never revealed only implied. For example, you may have heard someone say, “He was a diamond in the rough.” The comparison being made is that of a person and their characteristics and unique qualities to others around them who are just average. In other words, the implication is that this person is someone really special; a rarity.

Metaphors challenge my mind to think outside of the normal realm in order to solve the riddle being presented, and lately one metaphor has been dominating the thoughts of my brain on a daily basis.

The song “Oceans” by Hillsong rapidly repeats metaphorical images to the attentive listening ear, stirring a longing into a restless heart wanting to break free from the chains of “average life” into a life completely dependent upon God for all of the answers especially the ones that are always the scariest to let go of.

Hillsong creates a comparison between our daily walk and the endless ocean. “You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail.”(Hillsong)   In other words, we as Christians are called to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). All creation meaning we need to get up and venture out into places where we may not be successful at all times. Places that maybe we never thought to paddle into.

For example, is there a co-worker who constantly makes comments in reference to ideas against your faith, yet you never take a stand? Although your “feet may fail,” (Hillsong), your “faith will stand”(Hillsong). We can “call upon His name and keep our eyes above the waves” as the challenges arise, but our soul will always be able to rest in God’s embrace. (Hillsong)

Along our walk with God, we must call upon the Holy Spirit and ask him to lead us “where our trust is without borders.” (Hillsong). When we place borders as to how far we are willing to go for God, then we can unintentionally become the Holy Spirit or worse yet, God may call someone else with a willing heart to go instead.

Therefore let us “… walk upon the water wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior.” (Hillsong) Is there a border in life that you are willing to cross for the sake of Jesus?

Although we know that not everyone is willing to hear the message we are proclaiming, we cannot let our fears hinder us from every trying. “My feet may fail when fear surrounds me. You never failed and you won’t stop now.” (Hillsong). There will always be something we will fail at in life; it is how we react to our failures.

If fear grips hold of our hearts, we make ourselves vulnerable for the enemy to creep in. Instead, we have to remind ourselves that God always keeps his promises “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” (Joshua 21:45)

The metaphor of life and the daily routine compared to the vast ocean in Hillsong’s “Ocean” has challenged me to examine my own life and to make a new decision. Will I continue to live the average every day cookie cutter life, or will I paddle my boat out and take a step of faith out of the boat just like Peter knowing that fear will fail me, but through the Holy Spirit and His leading I will be made stronger.