The lyrics of this song literally ask God to take us deeper into an unknown mystery–where fear surrounds us and there’s a pretty good chance our feet will fail us–but our faith may be made stronger in the process. I mean, that all sounds super good…very spiritual. But honestly, if we want the Spirit of God to lead us where our trust is without borders, then that means we have to be taken to the very edge of our ability to trust Him–that frightening place of doubt that we don’t like to admit exists–and only then can He take us beyond those borders. Do you feel the weightiness of that request? Do we stop and take into account what it is we’re actually asking God for when we belt this out in worship?
I’m not trying to discourage anyone from singing this amazing song or pursuing next-level experiences. I’m just bringing to light that the words we sing in worship…they’re declarations. We’re speaking to God in song and we’re asking Him for amazing things…but these things are not without cost. Jesus paid the price for our salvation, but that’s where no-cost Christianity ends. Pursuing Jesus will cost us everything…our pride, our plans, and our personal pursuits. It can cost us relationships and money and most definitely comfort zones. The cost of increased faith will often first involve an increased lack in some area or another. And in the power of these beautifully penned lyrics, we’re crying out to God for the privilege to pay these costly fees.
Even the song title, “Oceans” is a bit deceiving. It can cause us to think of peaceful vacation destinations with blue skies and white sand…maybe a chaise lounge and an umbrella to provide shade during the peak sun hours. But oceans aren’t safe, little havens to visit on vacations. Beaches are. But oceans? Not so much. Oh, you can dabble at the shoreline, making sand castles and playing Frisbee. You can even have some fun skirting the edges of the water. But the minute you enter the water, you know the game changes and the dangers become real. Even ankle-deep, you have to take care not to step on a jellyfish. Then, the more committed you become to experiencing the depths of the ocean, the more you begin to understand the increased dangers and respect the power that this body of water contains.
First of all, oceans contain salt water. Did you ever get salt water in your eyes? It burns, doesn’t it?! If you choose to remain in the water of God’s Spirit, your eyes will often burn uncontrollably with tears as He washes over you. Some days, you may not even know why you’re crying. You just know you’re burning. Panic can begin to set in as the undertow grabs hold and the waves begin to pull you further and further out. Unable to see the shore or touch the bottom, you may struggle to keep your head above water as 30-foot squalls crash fiercely all around you. Spitting and sputtering, you anticipate the arrival of the next wave, gasping for as much breath as you can take in before you are overtaken once again. Then fear tries to grip you when an unseen predator brushes against your legs. He knows how to fight here in the unseen depths, but you’re new to this creature’s habitat. You might even freeze, unsure if you should stay still, hoping it swims away, or give it your best fight.
THIS is the ocean. THIS is where your soul learns to rest in His embrace. It doesn’t sound so peaceful now, does it? The question is…Do you still want that?
Honestly, I hope you do. Because, in the end, it’s worth it. But I don’t want to lure people into a false sense of security by failing to talk about the cost. The Christian life costs us everything. People whine and carry on about returning a 10% tithe that belongs to God in the first place. But the truth is, this Jesus-pursuing life will cost us 100% every day if we do it correctly. And the cost isn’t really about money. It’s about letting God have access to absolutely everything–everything we earn, everything we say, everything we do, everything we are–so He can do what He wants to do with it…with us…for us…because He loves us.
Our Father’s plans for us are good, but the road to the fulfillment of those good, perfect, amazing plans is paved with lots of battles, tears, and brokenness. The journey to discover a prize as perfect as God’s heart is riddled with crashing waves and gasping for breath, but He never leaves us out there alone. As we keep our eyes on Him, we can walk upon the water. But the minute we get our eyes off of Jesus (and we ALL do, from time to time), that’s when we begin to sink. But Jesus doesn’t leave; He reaches out His hand, and He helps us regain our footing.
So when I sing this song tomorrow, in my car, or in church next Sunday, you can be sure I know exactly what I’m singing. Still, my answer is “Yes!” Yes, I want to go deep with Jesus. Yes, I want to trust Him in the depths of the ocean and expand the borders of my faith. Yes, I am willing to pay the price along the way. I will allow Him to show me the ugly that still needs to be worked out, and I will let Him peel back my sinful nature–no matter how painful. I will allow Him access to all my hopes and dreams, all my security, and all my will. Yes, I will trust Him when I can hardly hear him over the roar of the ocean. I will rely upon my water-walking Savior and I will know that He has neither left nor forsaken me when my fears are so much more tangible than my faith. Yes, I will hold on to the anchor of my soul and know that “this too shall pass.” And as I sing this song, knowing full well the cost of what I’m asking for, I will once again sing it with passion and volume, because the only thing more frightening than exploring the depths of this ocean is sitting on the shore.
220 Gal 