Boy, I love to swim. I love the freedom of not feeling the weight of my body pulled down by gravity. I love the plunge of my head below water and its surrounding silence. I love the feeling of gliding as my body’s mild efforts propel me forward. For me, swimming in cool waters is about as physically refreshing as you can get.  

So why, as I stood at the edge of a pool in Mexico last week, did I say “Ahh, I’m not so sure I’ll get in,”? Because I knew that the first plunge into those cool waters would jolt me and possibly make me gasp. I’d be uncomfortable. (I also knew that my mascara would smear, and that I’d have to take another shower, and that my towel was still damp.) You see, I wanted refreshment, but I didn’t want any discomfort in the process of getting it. 

The same thing happens to me with His Word. I do love it. I love the pictures of our future that remind me there is so much more than this physical reality. I love the way He speaks to me as I stop listening to the world and instead focus on Him. I love the rest that comes from letting go of my own will and submitting to Him. Certainly it is true that His word revives my soul, Psalm 19:7. 

But just like plunging into a pool, getting into His word can sometimes seem uncomfortable. It’s easier, it seems, to snuggle up in what I think I need, and forget His promises of true refreshment. It’s less demanding to skip the discipline of spending time with Him and stay stuck in my scrolling. It’s so tempting to get caught up in the work He’s given me to do, and forget the One who wants to guide my hands and feet along the way. I lose focus of how very good it is to be washed by His word, and instead splash in the world’s false comfort. 

That’s why I need to remember how needy I am. I need His Body, the ones who are already swimming to say, “Come on in, it’s worth it. Remember how good the water feels?” I need His Spirit to remind me that His waters are so much more refreshing than any stream I think I have found. I need teaching, encouragement, and admonishment. I need so much, and His pool is ready and waiting. I need to just take the plunge, and dive in.