Crossing the Sea of Faith: Where Will You Find Your Way Forward?

Sometimes, when we read the scriptures, the accounts feel so monumental, so utterly beyond our current capacity to understand. Like standing at the edge of a vast, impossible body of water, knowing that everything we’ve ever known is behind us, and the promised land seems impossibly far across.

I was recently reminded of this while studying Exodus. The sheer drama of the parting waters—a miracle that defies all natural law—always strikes me. It’s easy to get caught up in the spectacle, the "wow" factor, but as we always strive to do in our study groups, we have to dig deeper. What does the Red Sea *really* represent for us, here and now, as we navigate our own lives?

It’s not just about getting *across* a physical barrier. It’s about the boundary between who we were—defined by our fears, our murmurs, our inability to trust—and who we are meant to become through the covenants we keep. It’s the ultimate test of faith versus fear.

The Boundary Between Then and Now

The speaker noted that the Red Sea is a boundary separating our past from our future. Think about that for a moment. We all have those moments—those 'seas'—where we feel utterly trapped. Maybe it's a pattern of sin we can't break, a fear that whispers doubt when we should be studying the gospel, or a commitment we've let slide because life got noisy.

When we get bogged down in the 'what ifs' or the 'what was,' we risk being swallowed up, just like the Egyptians. But the narrative isn't just about the threat; it’s about the *deliverance*. It’s about the Lord opening a miraculous way of escape so that we can march forward with faith toward our land of promise.

This echoes so much of what we discuss when we prepare for missions or when we are called to serve in capacities that stretch us. We are constantly being asked to cross a sea—the sea of doubt, the sea of cultural difference, the sea of personal sacrifice. It requires more than just belief; it requires an active, sustained trust that God can make a way where there seems to be no way.

Faith or Fear: The Daily Choice

The lesson pivots beautifully between the physical parting of the waters and the spiritual struggle of murmuring (like at Marah). It’s clear that even after the greatest miracles, the struggle remains internal. The Israelites, having seen the impossible, still complained about the manna. They expected the miracle to be repeatable on demand, rather than trusting the daily provision.

This is a critical piece of missionary preparation, isn't it? We can be so focused on the grand testimony—the 'big miracle' we want to share—that we forget the daily sustenance. We forget the small, quiet moments of scripture study, the consistent effort to be more Christlike in our daily interactions, or the simple act of pondering the Book of Mormon with diligence.

“We have to cross what seems and an uncrossable barrier, but with God's help, all things are possible.”

It reminds me of a time I was feeling discouraged in my own calling. I felt like I was failing to keep up with the rhythm of the gospel, like I was bogged down in the mud of my own imperfections. I remembered that the power isn't in our ability to *keep* the miracle going, but in our willingness to *walk* by faith, even when the waters look impassable. The Lord sustains the prophet, but He also sustains the disciple.

Be Christlike and Keep Moving

My friends, whether you are preparing for your own mission, serving as a returned missionary, or simply trying to be a better disciple in your own home, remember the lesson of the sea. Don't get stuck looking backward at the drama, or paralyzed by the vastness of the challenge ahead. Focus on the next step. Focus on the next lesson. Focus on the next act of kindness.

If you’re looking for a way to deepen your personal study, I highly recommend diving into the scripture_insight community feed in LivingBook. It’s a wonderful place to see how other disciples are connecting verses and building deeper understanding together.

If you’d like to talk more about how to handle those 'seas' in your own life, I’m always here. Or, if you’re ready to tackle some tough doctrinal questions head-on, I encourage you to check out Davee. He’s ready to walk you through the hard questions an investigator might ask!

For those who love diving deep into the scriptures, join us next week for our Book Club discussion on the Book of Isaiah—it’s going to be a powerful study!