Dive Into the Deep End

There she stood. Nose pinched, eyes squinted closed, and toes curled at the edge of the pool. Her golden curls danced in the wind and sunlight of that summer day. She had mustered up the strength to try once more to dive into the deep end and summoned our family to aid in her attempt. We would count, “1,…2,…3,…,” sometimes reaching as high as 25 because she just wasn’t ready to make that plunge!

My little sister would practice her dive day after day as we enjoyed the relaxing pool in the summer heat. It took years to perfect her form, but I always admired her tenacity and determination. She had an honest fear of water, and therefore, to dive into the deep end of the very thing that caused panic, was to be applauded.

Often in our culture, we use the phrase, “dive into the deep end” to have a negative connotation. Let’s say you were hired for a new job and the portfolio grew beyond more than you thought! Someone may say, well you “dove into the deep end!”

But diving into the deep end takes smarts, water safety skills, and grace. Olympians train for years to dive with the least amount of splash to secure the highest score! Metaphorically it requires the same determination and gusto. Spiritually, it requires faith.

One of my favorite passages rests in Ezekiel 47. Ezekiel was called to go into the deep. The result was the revelation of the healing ways of the Lord.

Ezekiel 47:1-13 says:

“In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. 2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.

3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet[a] and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. 4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. 5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.

6 He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. 7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. 8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea.[b] The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. 9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.[c] Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.[d] 11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

The Beginning

What I love about this passage, is that his journey begins at the temple. There is sanctuary, safety, and peace in our Lord when He is calling you to something greater. As a believer, you hold the authority and presence of the Almighty within. His sanctuary resides in you! Therefore, you have no reason to worry or fear the unknowns of the deep.

The Process

Scripture tells us it is precept upon precept, line upon line (Is 28) that we learn. We go from glory to glory, (2 Cor 3:18) and strength to strength (Ps 84:7) to be transformed.

We are encouraged that God will never gives us more than we can handle either (I Cor 10:13). In Ezekiel’s case, the Lord is gracious here as well. He takes Ezekiel to the deep places, one step at a time. From his ankles, to his knees, to his waist, and then to where he would need to tread water to stay afloat. The process did not end there. It concludes on the other side on a lovely, grassy bank with many lush trees. See, the deep things of God bring bounty, strength and delight. (He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides, still waters Ps 23:2)

The Result

Once on the bank opposite of Ezekiel’s genesis, he saw the beautiful trees growing on both sides of the river. The trees bore fruit that would bring healing!! When we decide to step out into the deep, there is healing for our soul and a harvest of spiritual fruit in our life!

As for my little sister, ironically she now lives by the sea. Don’t fear the greater depths that God has for you. He’s waiting in the water not to critique your dive, but to cheer you on as you come closer to Him!! So, “dive into the deep end” of the things of God!!!

Go ahead! I’ll count! “1…,2….,3….”