When my son Eli was 4 and my daughter Annika was 2, I brought them to swimming lessons for the first time. Their experience there taught me something about trust. When Eli jumped off the edge of the pool, he needed to be reassured (repeatedly) that his feet could touch bottom. Without that assurance, he refused to leave the safety of the pool deck. Annika on the other hand, realized her swimming instructor could be trusted. Her little mind determined that even if her feet could not touch bottom, her teacher’s feet certainly could, and her teacher could be trusted to catch her. She jumped.


Before I jump into new waters, I want to know the outcome. I want to know I’ll land on my feet. I want to know that I will not drown. My fear keeps me standing on the side of the pool, unsure. But when I am afraid, I have to trust that God will catch me. Jesus took the giant leap from heaven all the way to earth to save us from our fears and sins. Even if our feet can’t touch bottom, Jesus’ feet already have!