Crossing the Boise River
During a local Craigslist purchase, God told me not to buy this huge raft & I doubted that it was Him speaking to me. I unfortunately bought it anyways (and suffered the consequences of losing money from it). When it leaked air within the first hour of inflating it, I knew God was warning me to pay better attention to His voice. I felt led to pray and fast every morning, which continued for three months. During those times, God led me to pray in tongues more than I ever have before (see 1 Cor. 14:2-4 for more info).
On Friday, August 21, I was feeling desperate about some issues that have come up in our family. I felt stuck and anxious for God to move. I took my mask and went out on the Greenbelt, praying in tongues as I walked. I felt led to go across the bridge in the opposite direction than I normally go. I was trying to closely follow God’s lead. That morning, I had been meditating on Psalm 23. When I got to the pile of rocks that stretched across the river, I knew I was supposed to stop. I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me that He is my shepherd. I was to follow Him closer now than ever before. I knew I was to use the rocks as my stepping stones. As I attempted to cross, I fell into the water getting my socks and tennis shoes all wet; but I knew I couldn’t stop.
God told me to keep going. I enjoyed the adventure of it all and the unique mid-river views. It was one of those smoky days when the sun was bright orange from the Oregon-Idaho fires. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me…”
When I got to the middle of the river, God told me to pick up a stick. I found a sturdy walking stick, and right away it became useful to keep my balance on my bridge of branches and tree trunks. As I looked up, I remembered that the path of rocks and logs didn’t stretch all the way across. Hmm… that is a problem.
I strained to see which way I would go. To the left, the water became a torrent of rushing whitewater, passing around the tree in front of me. To the right, the calmer water looked deep and very swift in current. Both looked risky, and I knew I would get wet either way. I felt stuck, much like I felt in life that day. God was calling me to cross, but I knew there could be a cost. Would I get swept up with the current? Would I fall into the rocks? Could I handle the cold water? What would people think as they passed by me on the Greenbelt?
I didn’t know. All I knew was that the Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside quiet waters. Because the right side looked calmer, I felt the subtle nudge to choose that direction. With my stick in one hand, I stepped off the edge of the barricade of sticks and rocks, onto the marshy bottom of the river, sinking down to my hips. This was deeper than I thought! I dug the stick deep with each step. The current hit me with a giant force and pushed me off my balance. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”, I said in my head. With each step, I relied on the stick to help balance me, and the current grew in swiftness. Soon, I was up to my armpits. My declaration to God then came out of my mouth, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Over and over, I repeated that prayer. In a moment, the force of the current was so strong that I started to go backwards, losing ground. I was not going to give in. With all of my force, I planted that stick in the ground and heaved myself forwards, fighting the powerful water against me. You are with me. I will fear no evil. Breathing harder, God gave me the energy for each step, until I finally reached the part of the river just past the fast current. I had made it! I didn’t crash or drown; I didn’t fall or get swept away. I crossed the river with the Lord at my side. It was truly a supernatural experience.
It was a test of physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional submission to Him, and He helped me pass. Getting out of the water, I was so overcome with gratitude and the presence of the Holy Spirit, that my face beamed and I couldn’t help but thank Him over and over. Dripping wet from my neck to my toes, I headed back home on the Greenbelt. The fear of what people might think of me, tried to creep into my thoughts, but the joy of the Lord pushed them out. Instead, I was exhilarated with the adrenaline from what God had just done. I was my Beloved’s and He was mine. And yes, I did get some very curious looks!
I recognized that day, that the Lord was empowering me for this season of life in a greater way. Prayer and scripture would be my strength, just as the wooden staff was that day. All I had to do was focus on Him and His voice and not the opposition, and He would see me through.
Faith-filled risk brings life, whereas doubt brings death. Fear of God should triumph over fear of man, so let’s remember to put our fear in the right place! Let’s keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord who is our Good Shepherd. He leads us to green pastures, quiet waters, and torrential waters like the Boise River!
