When we TREAD through Life with God

They go from strength to strength.

Psalm 84:7

Sometimes I feel like I’m treading through life—barely keeping my head above water. While the last few years haven’t been easy—some things have happened to me while I was treading life. My relationship with God has deepened more than I ever thought it would. I’m stronger spiritually, emotionally, and physically than I was before. It’s made me tough and tender—tough to take more and tender to give more of myself. How can we continue to TREAD with God in this life?

T – Trusted God more confidently.
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:4)

While we don’t always know how things are going to always work out, we can grow in confidence that God is trustworthy to open the door, show us the way, and give us the strength to go through it.

When everything fell apart, Jesus was the solid Rock that I clung to with all of my being. I always trusted God and He brought me through many life situations. However, when I found myself all by myself—it went to a different level of trust.

R – Returned to my first love more deeply.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25)

There’s nothing that can compare to the agape love of God over each of our lives.

I’ve felt a closeness with God ever since my childhood. He’s always been near me, but I haven’t always returned the same to Him. I went through the selfishness of my youth and took for granted His precious love for me. When I become an adult, my love grew as I understood and received His deep love and concern for me.

E – Embraced my life journey more realistically.
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1)

Becoming more realistic about the life’s peaks and valleys brings us more peace in Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite songs is Through it All by Andre Crouch about how God is with us through the ups and downs of life. I’ve learned to embrace change and the unexpected more realistically. I used to think that when bad things happened—I must’ve done something to deserve it because of my imperfection. While there is a sowing and reaping principle life—even more is the reality that we live in a sinful world where there’s death, sickness, disappointment, and brokenness.

A – Activated my faith in God’s word and promises more strongly.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

It’s our intentional effort in the study, meditation, and reading of God’s word daily that helps move the mountains in our lives.

While I’ve tread through life, my faith would sometimes grow weak and I would begin to feel myself sinking into despair and fear. It seems like those times would always come when I was too busy to spend time reading God’s word. I realized that my faith and knowledge of God’s word were interlinked—I needed both to work in strength and not fear.

D – Determined to reach my destiny with God’s grace more expectantly.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

We need to rest in His grace to keep us on the right track towards the destiny and finish of our spiritual journey. His grace gives us the strength to keep our eyes on the prize and finish our faith well.

While treading water is a good swimming lesson to learn—I can only tread so much before I get tired and start sinking. Treading in life with God means that I need to resist the urge to do things in my own strength.