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Seth Buckley| Special to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal

As I stood on the edge of the diving board, my mind raced back to just a few years earlier when I had a near-drowning incident when I was swept down river before my uncle L.T. saved me at the last minute.

I was an ok swimmer at the time and my daddy was trying to encourage me to jump into the deep end and swim to the side. As he saw the fear welling up in my face, he began to make his way into the deep water and he said, Son, jump, I will be right here to help you if you need it.

As comforting as that was, I continued to see the water and my mind continued to race. He then said, Son, look straight at me and jump towards me. Ive got you! OK, that was a different level. I looked at him and he said again, Come on, Ive got you!! I jumped into the water, and sure enough, daddy was there to help and he turned me towardthe side and said, Now swim on to the side, youre good. That one moment helped me to overcome a fear that was so real to me.

The fear that I had was so real. I wasnt sure I could face the unknown of deep water again. But my focus was in the wrong place. I was focusing on the circumstances. This story is very similar to the story from Matthew 14 where Jesus invited Peter to walk towardhim on the water. Peter was successful until he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the winds and waves (14:30). He then cried out to Jesus who rescued him and then challenged all of the disciples in the boat to examine the depth of their faith.

We are facing uncertain times, which could actually be a theme that each of us could probably state over our entire lives. But isnt that what life is? If you read through the chronicles of history, every generation faced moments, even years, that were filled with worldwide uncertainty.

The question we have to ask ourselves is if we are going to allow the fear we have overwhelm us and keep us from experiencing the life that God has ordained for us to live. I think that it all depends on where our focus is. The more we focus on the circumstances, it will be as if they are growing before our very eyes and seem insurmountable. I heard an old country preacher say one time, Dont tell God how big your circumstances and trials are, tell your circumstances and trials how big your God is! It is all about your perspective!

That statement is easier said than done, but I do believe that when Joshua was faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua could hear the voice of God saying in Joshua 1:9, 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;do not be discouraged,for theLordyour God will be with you wherever you go. Modern day translation for me? Come on Son, Look at me! Ive got you! And I believe that He is saying that to us today.

The Rev. Seth Buckley is minister of students, First Baptist Spartanburg. Reach him at sbuckley@fbs.org.

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Opinion: During uncertain times we must keep our focus on God instead of our circumstances - Spartanburg Herald Journal