Let Us

In His hand are the depths of the earth. Psalm 95:4

When it comes to the deep waters of life and recovery, it's natural to scan for life-guards.

How we need them!

And recently, two words have become popularized as "guards" or protections:

let them.

"Let them" is the name of a popular book and theory promoting self-care

by encouraging that we detach from the opinions, reactions or behaviors of others. Helpful!

"Let me" is the second part of the book recommending that we take responsibility for our own feelings, thoughts and actions. Useful!

And yet.

What was it about the "let" that seemed to remain in the shallows?

It took a Norwegian teacher (and concentration camp survivor) reflecting on a thousands-year-old-Book

to help me hear the "deep calls to deep," Psalm 42:7.

Let us.

Because an immersion in depth can refresh our souls.

Reinvigorate our senses.

Reawaken to what we need to let us.

Let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 95 NIV.

But why an immersion into the deep when the shallows feel safer-

where we (think) we can see what's around us,

where we (think) we can be in control,

and where we (think) we can get by without learning to swim?

Sometimes my splashing in the shallows is simply a distraction to myself.

Let them! (When what I mean is let them avoid harming my ego).

Let me! (When what I mean is let me protect my ego).

But depth (in life, recovery, relationships, faith) -

is a plunge into the unknown,

the uncertain,

the uncharted.

Does anyone else need a life-vest and some goggles to stay the course?

Ole Hallesby, a Norwegian Christian teacher, offers essentials in his unassuming book, Prayer.

First, Prayer is letting Jesus into our needs. (Every one of them! Yes, even those!)

And as such, prayer is our daily life-saver,

"the breath of the soul" and the "heartbeat of our life in God."

Next, prayer requires both helplessness and faith.

If our life vest has "Helplessness" stamped across the front and back,

the first thing we need to do is to go ahead and put it on,

snapping each latch around us,

each click a humble recognition of our dependence.

"Helplessness becomes prayer the moment we go to Jesus

and speak candidly and confidently with Him about our needs."

But the life vest needs pairing.

Because "helplessness is simply a vain cry of distress,"

until it's paired with faith.

Donning the goggles we will label as "the eyes of Faith,"

we'd need to let ourselves look silly and feel disoriented

as we take His hand

and let Him guide us.

"Faith sees its own need, acknowledges its helplessness,

goes to Jesus, tells Him just how bad things are, and leaves it with Him."

Leaves it?

We can see where this is going.

Or can we?

Our Let Us

becomes

Let Him.

"(We must) leave to God the when and how regarding the fulfillment of our prayers.

Without influencing, without nagging. (Because) when we think we understand

better than He does when and how our prayers should be answered,

our prayers become a struggle with God, promoting restlessness and anxiety."

Is anyone else hyperventilating?

"Isn't my way better, Lord?

How much longer?

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

Are you doing anything at all?"

Oh dear - the very thing we wanted to avoid - anxiety!

Struggling in deep water with a Savior puts us in greater danger.

Let Us.

Let Him.

And as those goggles of faith get a bit cloudy?

They may.

Yet, "The Spirit gives the open eye of Love which sees both our visible and invisible needs.

And when the Spirit has taught us that God decides when and how prayers are answered,

we will experience rest and peace when we pray."

Even as we're underwater, splashing and thrashing, the Spirit sees.

Let us relax.

Let us hold onto the Savior.

Let us trust, working with instead of against His rescue.

Let us remember:

"It is blasphemy toward God to turn to Him in prayer and not believe in answer to prayer.

(And further, where there is) a violence of (imposed) must-do, or immediacy (by us upon God),

there is no peace and no confidence in the soul."

Wait.

I can't get what I want with prayer?

Once more, our Norwegian coach lifts the megaphone above the water,

because I need to hear this loudly and clearly.

"We are not to pray in the name of our own heart, but in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer is not a winning of divine favor, nor is it to obtain a divine surplus."

It gives me such pause, I stop thrashing.

If I stop thrashing, maybe I will float.

O. Hallesby continues, turning our attention back to the Book of Life.

Let us pray.

Because Mary states a need at the wedding of Cana without tugging or nagging.

"They have no wine," she says. Before Jesus's miracle of water into wine.

Let us pray.

Because Paul asked God to remove his affliction, but it was not removed.

Paul used this to glorify God's name even more by glorifying the power of God

through his very affliction, humility and receptivity.

Let us pray.

Because Jesus prayed, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me."

But Jesus consumed the bitter contents of the cup stating,

"Not as I will, but as Thou will."

Let us pray.

Because prayer is asking God,

thanking God,

praising God,

confessing to God,

conversing with God,

and simply being with God.

And when it comes to our life and our needs,

our asks and our desires,

we already have a LifeGuard.

Let us.

Let Him.

"Father, if it is possible, here is my need. Here is their need. Here is our need.

Yet not as I will, they will, or we will -

but Your Will be done,

that it will glorify Your Name.

In the Name of Jesus."

Let Him.