When my fiance David was three years old he went to the pond with his grandfather. The pond wasn’t very clean in fact, It was so muddy that you couldn’t see the bottom even though it was only a couple of feet below the water.

Like most three-year old kids, David became curious about the pond and he wanted to go closer to the water.  David took his hand away from his grandfathers safe grip and moved his little feet closer to the edge of the pond. The consequences of his curiosity hadn’t crossed his mind.

Those rational thoughts were clouded by curiosity and unfortunately his coordination wasn’t very good. David had stepped a little too close and lost his balance. His little feet fell out from under him and he slipped into the dirty water below.

As he stood up in the water he began to cry hysterically, because he was wet and muddy and gross. Before he took those steps, he was clean but now, he was stuck in the muddy water and was immersed in filth.

When David’s grandfather saw him crying, he didn’t pull him out. Instead, he selflessly jumped in, walked to David, and held that little boy with his strong and protective arms. He softly whispered words of peace and wisdom into David’s ear until he calmed down.

Only then, when David had relaxed, did his grandfather carry him to the edge of the pond and help him out.

I think in life we get things mixed up. We naturally assume that God is here to take us out of our filth, but we forget that when it comes down to it, He is in the filth with us. The selflessness that Jesus had on the cross  when he took on our sin is a perfect example of that.

{These graphics are free for you to enjoy}

 Just like David’s grandfather, Jesus disregards our sin and steps into our situation because sometimes, we aren’t supposed to be rescued from our filth. Sometimes the dirtiness is a learning point that we need to grow closer to Him.

It’s in the nastiest moments that we can feel God’s presence most… ❤