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When I teach swimming lessons, I have a firm rule that the students must never say the words “I can’t.”  Instead we say, “I’ll try!” I know that they may not do everything correctly at first, but as long as they make an attempt, I am so pleased with them, and I know that sooner or later, they will master the skill.

I also always encourage my students. If they slip and fall on the steps and come up sputtering, I don’t react with a frightened gasp the way most parents do, instead I grin and clap and say, “Wow! You went under all by yourself! That was really terrific!” If they are supposed to be using their arms to swim and are not doing it very well, I’ll encourage them to try again and mention that they were kicking beautifully. Everything I do is a positive response to whatever they are attempting.

Sometimes the students can do a skill entirely on their own, but they haven’t realized it yet. They think they cannot float unless they can feel my fingers under them. So, although I know they are quite capable of floating alone, I’ll continue to let them rest on my fingertips until they understand that they are ready to complete the skill.

When they cry, I hug them and comfort them and wait patiently until they are ready, and then encourage them to try again. Sometimes I'll change the way I'm holding them or have them attempt to go toward the wall or step instead of trying to push off and come to me. It is amazing how they will sometimes "click" and understand a skill when I've reworded my request or changed their direction slightly.

It occurred to me recently that I need to apply these same principles much more often to my own Christian faith. I need to remember that God is my Swim Coach, and also my Supreme Encourager; He is always cheering me on and clapping for me, even if what I’ve done seems to be a slip-up. He knows what the end result will be. He can picture me “swimming” even when I cannot.

God is also always faithful to reward me when I say, “I’ll try!” Even if I don’t quite get it right the first time, as long as I’m giving it my best for His glory, my effort is pleasing to Him.

I forget that sometimes. I’ll start to doubt myself and whine, “Lord, I can’t do this!” That’s when I need to put this picture of my Lord into my mind: I’m floating, but only because one of His hands is under my back and the other is guiding my chin into the proper position to maintain my float, and He’s whispering, “Yes, you can do this, I’m right here, and I’m not going to let go of you. You’re not going to sink!”

Sometimes He just hugs me and lets me calm down. He redirects my attention or shows me a different way to look at my situation. He always wants me to succeed and He always wants me to understand Him better.

I’m learning to swim with my Lord. I’m trusting His voice, feeling His fingertips, and becoming a little more skilled at living by faith day by day. As long as I need Him, which of course is forever; He’ll be right there; ready to catch me. I may go under a few times along the way, but I know that He’s never going to let me drown.

Today I'm facing a swim test of sorts. My soldier's unit in Afghanistan sustained two fatalities and more than a dozen more injuries over the weekend. I want to climb out of the pool and run for the showers, but I can feel my Swim Coach holding me, encouraging me, and all I have to do is trust Him today. Even though I feel like I'm in water way over my head, He's right there beside me, helping me float.