Drowning or Developing: Finding Strength in the Waves

There are seasons in life that not only shake you—they drench you. These are the times when the waves don’t give you a chance to catch your breath. Grief is ruthless, and breakthroughs often come wrapped in exhaustion. One moment, you are on your knees in worship; the next, you’re crumbled on the floor in tears.

That’s where I’ve been.

Navigating Through Storms

Over the past few months, I’ve faced a relentless tide of emotional and spiritual intensity. My beloved Aunt Ethel fell ill. While worship music filled her hospital room, I felt her last breath. I watched as her pulse ceased while she stepped into eternity in my arms. Such sacred heartbreak defies explanation.

As if that weren’t enough, I also endured unexpected family tensions and fallouts during this time. Less than a week after laying my aunt to rest, another family member passed away. Amid the heartache, a long-awaited breakthrough arrived—justice for my daughter. It was a battle I had fought deep within my spirit as a mother. Glory to God!

This whirlwind of grief and joy coincided with the constant chaos and demands of my job. Leadership, deadlines, and expectations swirled around me like storms. Yes, I’ve been in the depths of the ocean. Yet, by the grace of God, I haven’t drowned.

And that is the part I need to testify about.

Washed, But Not Washed Away

Here’s what the Holy Spirit has taught me through all of this:

"You are being washed, not wasted."

The waters of hardship don’t come to ruin you; they come to reveal you. They are here to cleanse, not consume; they aim to refine, not erase.

Ephesians 5:26 reminds us that Christ sanctifies and cleanses His bride "with the washing of water by the word." This verse is both poetic and profound.

When you’re washed in the Word, everything else must be stripped away: pride, pretense, unhealed places, and remnants of the old man. The Word goes deep, sanitizing places where we have silently been bleeding. It doesn’t merely make you look clean; it makes you whole.

In this season, I’ve often felt overwhelmed by life’s tumultuous waves. But each time I turned to His Word, I discovered that the waves were not the final word—He was. The creation can never supersede the Creator.

Anchored in Christ, Not in Circumstance

Grief speaks loudly. It can drown out your plans and goals, creating chaos that chokes clarity. In those moments, it is vital to decide what truly grounds you.

If you've ever lost something precious—like I did with my Aunt—you understand: only Christ can anchor your soul in turbulent waters.

Hebrews 6:19 assures us, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast..." Hope isn’t mere optimism; it isn’t wishful thinking. Hope is the weight that keeps your soul grounded when life attempts to toss everything overboard.

And that hope has a name—Jesus.

Walking Forward While Wet

I’m still moving forward—wet from the waves but washed by the Word. Every tear, every late-night prayer, every moment of anguish hasn’t been in vain. The water didn’t come to bury me. It came to baptize me in His boldness once again.

This is what I now know more than ever:

"God doesn’t stop the waves—He calls you to Him and teaches you how to walk on them."

So, dear sister reading this, if you feel waterlogged by life, hear me clearly:

• You are not drowning. You are developing.

• You are not finished. You are being formed.

• You are not forgotten. You are being fashioned for His glory.

  
  

Let the Word wash you.

Let the Holy Spirit anchor you.

And let the boldness of your next step silence the storm.

Washed in the Word. Now, WALK IT OUT.

This moment is not just for reading—it’s for responding.

Let the Word move you from stillness to surrender, from insight to implementation.

Reflection Prompt:

What has this season washed up in your heart?

Is it disappointment? Hope deferred? Hidden fears?

Let the Word address it. Let the Spirit transform it.

Take 10 minutes this week to sit before the Lord and ask:

“Lord, what am I still carrying that You’re trying to cleanse in me?”

📖 Anchor Your Faith in These Scriptures:

• Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

• Psalm 93:4 – “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters…”

• John 7:38 – “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

  
  

Let these passages wash over you like waves of truth.

🗣️ Bold Declaration:

“I am not drowning—I’m being developed.

I am not falling apart—I am being washed in the Word.

I will not fear the deep because I am anchored in Christ.”

Speak it aloud and let your soul hear your spirit.

🎯 Bold Action Step:

Identify one area of your life where you've hesitated to move forward. Take one simple, obedient step—no matter how small.

📍 It could be scheduling a conversation, journaling through your fears, or saying “yes” to the next thing God asks of you.

Then tell one sister you trust or share it below. Boldness multiplies in community.

As I look back, I see how the waves have not destroyed me but shaped me. In every trial, I've learned one crucial truth: Life may be stormy, but I’m not drowning. I’m emerging stronger, more resilient, and prepared to take on whatever lies ahead. Embrace your journey; it may just be your catalyst for growth.