There are so many wonderful moments in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. (By the by, this is a great book for summer reading!) but a particularly instructive one is memorialized in a famous engraved picture. The artist captures the moment as Pilgrim is being swallowed up in what appears to be a very deep river. Pilgrim fears that he is going under for good.

One of his companions, a buddy named Hopeful, is also in the picture. Hopeful is shown with his arm around Pilgrim, pushing him up towards the surface. He is lifting Pilgrim’s head up and shouting, “Fear not Brother! I feel the bottom!”

I just love that concept…that no matter how deep the river, how strong the current, how fast the water moves, our sweet Savior stands steady with His blessed feet on the bottom. As the current slings us around, He grabs us, holds us, and moves us to safety. All because He feels the bottom.

Maybe this week is a great opportunity for us all to move our gaze from the surging waters and instead focus our attention onto the loving Heaven Father who won’t let us go. Regardless of your circumstances, keep your eyes on Jesus.

And consider these wonderful promises from the prophet Isaiah:

Isa. 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isa. 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you do not fear, I will help you.”

Isa. 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…”

You and I might not be tall enough, strong enough or brave enough to withstand the torrent of a river of current woes, but He is.

He feels the bottom!