Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

      The problem with deep waters within the Christian faith is that a lot of people cannot swim. Christians who have conversations about having a deeper relationship with God often have the desire to walk a profound and authentic walk, but most of the time, it ends there – just a conversation about deeper things. The idea of sacrifice and the thoughts that suffering might need to take place is the discouragement that rises to challenge the souls of those who want more in their relationship with our Heavenly Father. The question we need to answer is, “Am I willing to pay the price for a stronger and deeper life in Christ, or am I already defeated just by thinking about it?” Jer. 12:5 If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? How deep is the depth we need to go? When it comes to knowing God, the depths are bottomless.

       Peter was out in deep waters when Jesus asked him to step out of the boat and join Him on the stormy sea. Peter’s faith demonstrated amazing courage because he was, in fact, walking on the water before he started sinking. Matt 14: 29 “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. Most people point at the fear Peter experienced (as if they would have been fearless walking out on the sea in a storm), but, oh, the joy of those momentary steps Peter took toward his Lord would have been indescribable. Talk about a deeper walk with Christ. Peter experienced a momentary surge of infinity with his creator as he stood on the sea.

      It seems that when the Lord encounters a believer, there is always an expectation of stepping out by faith into some deep waters. After the Ascension of Christ, the disciples were gathered in the upper room uncertain about their future. Then, there was a Holy Spirit encounter, and they were all filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. The next thing we see is these same men speaking boldly in the temple in front of those they once feared. Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. The disciples had transformed and began a deeper walk in their faith.

      Someone might say, “I am an ordinary man, what deep waters can I walk through?” Ananias, an everyday man, was going about his business when the Lord asked him to go pray for the man who was killing the Christians. God brings Ananias into a deeper revelation, as Jesus explains that Saul/Paul had a vision of Ananias coming and praying for him so that the scales would fall off Paul’s eyes. Ananias responds cautiously. Acts 9:13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! In obedience, Ananias takes the risk of entering deep waters and becomes instrumental in ministering to Saul’s life, who then would go on to write most of the New Testament.

      When Paul and the crew who were sailing to Rome found themselves in an endless storm of raging seas, there could not have been any deeper waters than what they might all drown in at that moment. Even though Paul had warned of this disaster, God brings about a plan to save everyone. Acts 27:22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ The lesson of life became apparent when they had lost everything except their lives. The understanding and value that the crew and passengers of the ship had gone through would not be lost on anyone. They had felt the very power of creation. Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me. I would imagine they were profoundly affected by their near disaster. What deep thoughts did they meditate on once they were safe ashore?

      What has God been asking you to do that will take the courage to deny yourself and sacrifice something of your ego, pride, or flesh that is holding you back from a deeper walk in your faith? What is so important in this world that you are resisting the next step God wants you to take? We all need to take the next step of maturity, or we will end up as those who need milk and not solid food. Heb. 5:12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. God is calling each one of us to go in deeper. Eze. 47:4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. Open up your heart and let God’s deepest understanding of His grace fill your life to overflow. Deep waters in Christ are where we will live free.