Above It All

On a recent botanic garden visit, I noticed an aquatic insect inhabiting a water feature. But it wasn’t in the water, it was on top of the water. I recognized it as a water strider. These insects glide effortlessly across the water’s surface, but can also stand still or skip across it. They have water-repellent hairs that distribute their weight and allow them to take full advantage of the water’s surface tension without breaking it. Even if momentarily submerged, air bubbles trapped in these special hairs will quickly float them back to the surface, effectively making them unsinkable. They even communicate with one another by making tiny waves in the water, the frequency of those waves having different meanings. For example, ripples measuring 25 Hz mean either “Hey, you’re in my space!” or, if from a female to an amorous male, “Sorry dude, not interested.” (But…if she sends back a 3Hz wave, well, it’s his lucky day!)

You’re probably wondering, “So what do believers have in common with water striders?” Glad you asked! Here are some truths to consider when it comes to keeping your head above water:

• We may be in the world, but we’re not of the world (John 17:16). That means we’re not stuck under the surface, swimming with the sharks. The Bible says we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
• Deuteronomy 28:13 promises a blessing that we will be above and not beneath.
• As such, we should set our minds on things above, not on things below (Colossians 3:2).
• The devil wants to sink our boat, to take us down, but if we resist the devil, he must flee from us (James 4:7).
• We need not fret about circumstances, even if something doesn’t go our way, even if we feel temporarily submerged. God is able to work all things together for our good so we pop right back up to the surface! (Romans 8:28) In fact, He says in all we do, we will prosper (Psalm 1:3).
• Just like the strider can glide easily from place to place as easily as the wind blows, so are those born of and led by the Spirit (John 3:8).
• Even if we are going through a challenging time and have a sinking feeling, we can be confident that God’s grace is sufficient to get us through and that He is always present to help us in our need (2 Corinthians 12:9, Psalm 46:1, Hebrews 4:16).
• Knowing God loves us dearly, and that nothing can separate us from His love, is also like the water strider’s little air bubbles that always let him resurface. If we’ll reflect on his love for us when we’re down, we won’t be down for long (1 John 4:16, Romans 8:3-39).
• When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can successfully walk above the turbulent waters of life, just like He did! (Isaiah 43:2, Matthew 14:29, Hebrews 12:2)

Know who you are in Christ, stay full of the Word and the Spirit, meditate on God’s love for you, and you’ll find you’re unsinkable!

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