The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77:16-20 (KJV)
I stand in the path of troubled waters,
urged by a deep stirring in my soul.
My promise awaits me on the other side,
distant, dangerous, seemingly unattainable.
The waters are rising and churning,
lapping the ground at my feet,
teasing, testing, tantalizing.
Dare I step into troubled water,
tempting Satan, testing God?
Is the vision but a dream
or God’s perfect will?
There is no Moses to lead me in,
no Aaron to encourage me forth.
The angels hide, wait, watch.
Dare I take a chance
and step into the churning depths?
Do I trust God to part the sea,
dry the ground my feet must travel upon,
and hide my footsteps beneath the returning waters?
Or do I remain in my sheltered life,
no risks taken, nothing lost, nothing gained.
Do I reach out to the will of God,
the high calling I have been predestined to take,
or rest behind,
allowing another to receive the rich blessing
and sense of victory.
The sea of troubled water is frightening,
yet enchanting.
There is so much to gain,
so little to lose.
The waters surge and ebb,
surge and ebb.
Call me forward, Father,
as I strive to please you.
I close my eyes to self,
to doubt, to acceptable mediocrity.
One step at a time I move forward,
one step at a time.
As the waters part and rise up around me
I see the truth of my adversary,
like a motion picture through a looking glass,
larger than life, magnified,
yet fragile and easily destroyed.
Why did I fear?
Will those troubles disappear?
No!
They will always rest in the troubled waters.
It is my choice to view them,
or place my eyes on God,
and take a step forward,
knowing that each step will part the waters
and find solid ground.
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep;
that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
Isaiah 51:10 (KJV)
Written 9-11-00
Linda J. Humes 
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