Sink or Swim.
Hello there Beauties!
You know how they say the best way to learn to swim is to jump right in? Well, I think that's a perfect analogy for having faith, and the concept of adulthood in its entirety. The more I think about it the more I believe it, and the more I believe it the more it makes sense. Big brain, right?
💡Think about it:
When you think about learning to swim, would swimming lessons broken down into doable steps be very helpful with your plight? Well, of course they would.
Would it also help if you prepared mentally and physically for it, per se, breathing exercises and the mindset to actually learn? Well, of course it would.
Would it also help if you had the right tools/gear/resources, for example, swimming gear, goggles, etc. to make the lessons flow much more easily and be much more profitable? Well, of course it would.
Now imagine if you were being taught to swim but you had no idea? Someone just picked you up, and threw you right in -- no preparations, no warnings, no instructions, nothing. Would you learn to swim? Personally, I would drown,.
Needless to say, preparation is always a good choice, However, as life would have it, not many of us have the resources to prepare well. Well Beloushii, what does this have to do with faith, fear, and adulthood? I'm getting there, bear with me.
Adulthood, for me, has been a series of events that have required me to jump into situations I have no idea how to handle. Everyone in my life who is older than me (i.e. mostly my sisters and older relatives) would tell me, "Just have faith and trust God." Solid advice actually, but does it always apply? This may be a hot take, but my answer is no. Don't kill me, hear me out.
Just having faith and trusting God is only manageable when life is a series of events that you deem manageable. I am not saying don't have faith and don't trust God, but it only works when you have plans D, E, F, G, and so on to fall back on when plans A, B, and C have not worked out. What do you mean Beloushii? Let's look at the following scenarios.
Scenario 1
Practical situation: someone is pranking me by throwing me into a pool. Let's say I have been to some lessons, but not all. I have a fear of deep water but I have been going to therapy for it. I have a swimsuit, some goggles, and swimming shoes. I have also mastered holding my breath and light treading. I know the basic arm and leg movements. I am being thrown into the pool of water, will I drown easily, or do I have a fighting chance?
Scenario 2
Practical situation: someone is pranking me by throwing me into a pool. I do not know the first thing about swimming. I have anxiety, a fear of deep waters, asthma, and a fear of drowning. I have no background knowledge and have not prepared at all. I am being thrown into the pool of water, will I drown easily, or do I have a fighting chance?
QOTD: Is it practical to say, "Just have faith and trust God," in response to both scenarios, even though both scenarios are different? Why do you think/not think so?
Let me know below. I absolutely love reading your comments.
Love from all ends,
Bella
What a great question. The practical side of me wants to say no, but the spiritual side of me leans toward yes.
ReplyDeleteNo – Having faith is so much easier when you have other options, when there are ways to handle things on your own. But to be near death and still trust completely in God? That’s a huge leap of faith, and honestly, something most people would find nearly impossible.
Yes – When I think about the story of Job, I can’t ignore the fact that God always shows up when it matters most. Like the song says, “He never promised that the cross wouldn’t be heavy, but He said help would always come in time.” What if being at rock bottom isn’t meant to destroy us but to prepare us for something bigger? I’ve had my share of heartbreaking moments, questioning “Why?” But later on, I’ve realized those tough times gave me the strength to overcome even bigger challenges. Maybe the cross has to get heavy sometimes—to shape us and mold us into who we need to be.
I’m torn because, of course, I don’t like the idea of suffering or making it seem like it’s a good thing. But then I think about Job, and I’m reminded that even the hardest moments can have a purpose.
Very interesting perspective on Job. But food for thought, yes God showed up for Job when it really mattered, and it is because of his unwavering faith that he was able to overcome some of the worst challenges a person will ever face. However, he lost everything he ever knew and everything he loved. Even though his future was restored, did that loss count for anything? I agree that the cross has to get heavy, but what do you do when you can’t carry it?
DeleteWhy “Just Have Faith and Trust God” Isn’t Practical
ReplyDeleteWhile faith can be a source of emotional strength and hope, surviving in either scenario comes down to preparation, skills, and understanding your limits. Here’s why relying solely on faith might not work:
Faith works best alongside effort and preparation. Trusting God is important, but it doesn’t mean you can ignore the practical side of things. In a dangerous situation, like being thrown into a pool, you need to rely on what you’ve learned and prepared for. If you haven’t put in the effort to learn how to swim or manage your fear, you’re putting yourself at unnecessary risk. Faith alone won’t keep you afloat.
The two situations are completely different. In Scenario 1, you’ve learned some basic swimming skills, so you have a chance to get through it if you stay calm and trust your abilities. Faith can help you stay focused, but it’s your preparation that will save you. In Scenario 2, where you have no swimming knowledge and other challenges like anxiety or asthma, the risks are much higher. This situation calls for immediate help, not just faith. Giving the same advice for both situations doesn’t account for how much more vulnerable someone in Scenario 2 is.
Fear, anxiety, and physical conditions can’t be ignored. Things like fear, anxiety, and asthma are real obstacles that can overwhelm you in the moment. Panic can stop you from thinking clearly, and an asthma attack could make it impossible to breathe. Telling someone to “just have faith” in this case doesn’t address the real, life-threatening challenges they’re facing. Ignoring these factors puts lives at risk unnecessarily.
A Better Way to Look at It
Faith can definitely play a role in helping you stay calm and hopeful, but it shouldn’t replace practical action. In Scenario 1, having faith can help you stay grounded and trust in the skills you’ve worked hard to learn. In Scenario 2, faith might give you emotional strength, but you’ll still need immediate help from others.
The best approach is to combine faith with preparation and effort. Trust in God, but also recognize when you need to take action or ask for help.
Very well said. I couldn’t agree more. 🥰🥰
DeleteIt's not practical in the second scenario to just have faith and trust God because you the person have absolutely no knowledge or tools to help you out, you aren’t gonna just magically know how to swim
ReplyDeleteAnd it's like life too as well, you don’t know something you are gonna fail miserably at it o the first go but proper knowledge and the past experience you can rely on faith in God to carry you through.
That's my 2 cents.
Past experiences really do help with faith, because you know what happened and how to navigate it. It helps to build that faith and it counts as previous knowledge/preparation.
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