There is a pattern woven throughout the scriptures. Again and again, God’s people find themselves standing at the edge of the water.
Moses stood before the Red Sea. Joshua faced the Jordan River at flood stage. Nephi built a ship and crossed an ocean he had never seen before. The brother of Jared climbed into barges that were tight like unto a dish and trusted God to carry his family across the deep.
These stories are not just about water, they are about faith.
Trusting God when the path ahead is unclear.
As LDS moms, we know what that feels like.
We may not be building ships or crossing seas, but we often find ourselves facing uncertain waters. Sometimes it is a child making choices we never expected. It might be a health challenge, a difficult relationship, or a season of waiting for answers that do not seem to come.
The details may look different, but the invitation is the same, trust God and take the next step.
This weeks podcast I’m joined by Judy Horton, a first responder spouse, wife and mom. We talk about crossing waters and what that looks like for first responder families.
The Other Side Is Not Always Visible
One of the most remarkable things about Nephi’s journey is that he could not see the destination.
The Lord instructed him to build a ship. He did not hand him a blueprint or explain every detail. God simply provided guidance one step at a time.
Many of us want certainty before we move forward.
We want to know how the story ends, reassurance that our efforts will work. And we want proof that everything will turn out the way we hope.
Faith rarely works that way.
More often, God asks us to move forward before we can see the entire path.
The miracle is not always knowing where we are going, the miracle is learning to trust the One who does.
Every Season Brings a New Crossing
Motherhood is filled with crossings.
We cross into motherhood when a child is born, when they start school. Then come the teenage years, missions, college, marriages, grandchildren, and all the unexpected experiences in between.
Just when we think we have figured something out, life changes.
A new challenge appears, a new season begins and new crossing waits ahead.
The scriptures remind us that God’s people were always crossing something. Growth rarely happens while standing still.
Crossings are part of discipleship.
If you feel like you are facing unfamiliar waters today, you are not failing. You are growing.
Need support while navigating a difficult season?
Schedule a free Connection & Peace Call and let’s talk about where you are, what feels hard, and how you can move forward with more peace and confidence.
Faith Is Not the Absence of Fear
Many women believe that if they had enough faith, they would not feel afraid.
The scriptures teach a different lesson.
Imagine stepping onto Nephi’s ship watching the floodwaters rise around Noah’s ark. Or placing your foot into the Jordan River before it parted.
Fear was likely present in every one of those moments. Faith and fear often exist together, faith is not the absence of fear, it’s choosing to trust God anyway.
That truth applies to every area of life.
It applies to the mother worrying about her child, facing an uncertain future. To spouses whose loved ones leave each day to serve as firefighters, police officers, military members, or first responders.
Fear may show up. Faith allows us to keep moving forward.
God Often Sends Help Through People
One of the beautiful lessons of difficult seasons is that God rarely expects us to do everything alone.
Sometimes His answers come through family or the answers come through friends.
Or it comes through neighbors who step in at exactly the right moment.
Many women can point to experiences where someone showed up just when they needed support.
A ride for a child, a meal after a difficult day. Maybe a listening ear or an unexpected act of kindness.
These moments may seem small, but they are often evidence of God’s awareness.
The Lord frequently works through people to help us cross our own rivers.
Your Child's Agency Is Not Proof of Your Failure
This may be one of the most important lessons for LDS moms.
When a child chooses a different path, many mothers immediately ask themselves:
What did I do wrong? Could I have done more? Did I fail? Those questions often lead to years of shame and self-blame.
The truth is that agency was always part of God’s plan.
Your child’s choices are not evidence that you failed as a mother. They are evidence that agency is real. Heavenly Father loves your child
These are His children too. You were never asked to be their Savior.
We were asked to love them, to teach them, to do your best. (which will look different depending on the day)
The rest belongs to God.
When we release the burden of trying to control outcomes, we create space for greater peace, stronger relationships, and deeper trust in the Lord.
God Does Not Always Remove the Waters
One lesson appears over and over in scripture.
God did not always remove the challenge. He did not always calm the storm or shorten the journey. Instead, He strengthened His people during the crossing.
The waters remained the obstacles remained the uncertainty remained.
Yet God provided exactly what was needed for each step.
That same promise exists today.
Whatever waters you are facing, God sees you. He knows your heart and understands your fears. He is already preparing a way forward.
You may not see the other side yet or know exactly how the story ends but you do not have to cross alone.
Take the Next Step
If you are carrying fear, grief, uncertainty, or the weight of trying to hold everything together, I would love to help.
Schedule a free Connection & Peace Call.
Together we will talk about where you are, what feels heavy, and how you can begin finding more peace right now, even before circumstances change.
Remember the scriptures are not just filled with stories of promised lands. They are filled with stories of crossings.
And God has never abandoned His people in the middle of the water.
Connect with Judy Horton
Judy Horton is a life coach for first responder spouses and the host of The Shift Wife Podcast. You can also find her website and social links below.
Website: https://judyhorton.com
Podcast: The Shift Wife
Instagram: Judy Horton Coaching
Facebook: Judy Horton Coaching