{"id":35817,"date":"2023-04-28T13:17:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T13:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/swimming-lesson\/"},"modified":"2023-04-28T13:17:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T13:17:00","slug":"swimming-lesson","status":"publish","type":"sermon-illustrations","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/swimming-lesson\/","title":{"rendered":"The Swimming Lesson"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an issue of CT magazine contributing editor Susan Wunderink writes:<\/p>\n\n

\n

When I was a swimming instructor, I spent a lot of time trying to get little kids to float. I would tell them to put their ears in the water and their belly buttons out of it, and I’d say, “When I count to two, you won’t feel my hands underneath you, but they’re there.” As soon as I’d say “two,” most of the children would frantically jerk their knees towards their chins and flail their arms, dropping their full weight into my hands. Almost all people float when they assume a posture of rest, but people who think they’ll sink don’t keep that posture for long.<\/p>\n

Faith is about a posture of rest, too. Many of us are terrified by the life of faith, needing always to feel the support of steady jobs, steady relationships, and back-up plans. God, knowing that, signed us up for swim lessons. … God intends to make a swimmer of (us), and he was teaching (us) to rely on him through what seems like a disaster.<\/p>\n

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