May 7, 2025 Carried to the Water

While we were in Thailand there was a baptism of a teenage girl that left an impression on me, because it turned out to be the most perfect metaphor. 

Imagine this: as you place one foot in front of the other, the cool water of the river swirls around your ankles, and your heart begins to pound—not from nerves, but from a deep stirring within your soul.  

Your mind starts to race, flooded with memories. Glimpses of your past flash before your eyes. You see the pain you’ve endured, the joy you’ve clung to, the heartbreaks that nearly broke you, the fears that kept you awake at night, the laughter, the victories, the silent prayers whispered in the dark. Every emotion, every experience, surges forward, reminding you of how far you’ve come. 

But in this moment, standing in the water, you don’t feel overwhelmed. You feel peace. 

Peace, because now you see the full picture. You know He was with you through it all—every step, every fall, every triumph. The only reason you’re still standing, still breathing, still hopeful, is because of Him. And now, here you are, stepping deeper into the murky river water to commit your life publicly to the One who never left your side. The One who saved you. The One who carried you when your strength failed. 

It’s a powerful moment, a sacred moment. The riverbed is slippery, the water unpredictable. You stumble, stub your toe, slide on the mossy rocks—but you keep moving forward. You wade out, step by step, to where you can be fully submerged, where your past can be buried, and where you can rise again—cleansed, renewed, and surrendered. 

But sometimes, the journey isn’t smooth. Sometimes, it hurts. 

That’s exactly what happened to one young teenage girl on our mission trip to Thailand. She was making her way down the river to be baptized, just like many others before her. The rocks were slick, and her steps were careful but tentative. Then, in a split second, she stumbled. One sharp rock sliced deeply into her foot. She cried out in pain, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. 

Church members rushed to her side. They helped her sit, examined the wound, and did what they could with the limited supplies we had on hand. The cut was deep—deep enough that walking was no longer an option. 

But her desire to be baptized? That was deeper still. 

Nothing was going to stop her. Not pain. Not injury. Not even the bleeding wound on her foot. 

With tears still in her eyes and determination burning stronger than ever, she was gently lifted by church members. Carefully, they navigated the slippery rocks once again, carrying her out into the river. After a few moments of adjusting and figuring out how to proceed without further injuring her foot, they found a way. 

And she was baptized. 

In that moment, she left her past behind. She publicly declared her faith, her new beginning, her unwavering commitment to the One who had always been with her. 

Afterward, she was taken to a local clinic where she received stitches—but the real healing had already begun. 

Some would say the rock was the devil trying to stop her from publicly committing her life to Him. But even more simply, it can represent the stumbling blocks that we all encounter in life—those unexpected obstacles that push us back or try to shake our faith. That’s where a healthy support system comes in. When you can’t move forward on your own, when you’re hurting and stuck, you can call on your community—your friends, your family, your church—and they will carry you to where you need to be. 

This powerful baptism is a reminder that even when obstacles try to stop us, faith and community can carry us through. No matter the setback, there’s always a way forward when you’re surrounded by love and guided by purpose.