“Even at the bottom of the river I didn’t stop to say to myself, ‘Is this a Hearty Joke, or is it the Merest Accident?’ I just floated to the surface and said to myself. ‘It’s wet.’ If you know what I mean.” Eeyore, Winnie-the-Pooh
Eeyore was pushed, or as he says, “Bounced!” into the river by Tigger. He found himself in an uncomfortable environment (the river not exactly being a place for a lumbering donkey), and had no choice but to turn on his back and float.
My first tendency if pushed or “bounced” into an undesirable setting is to fight it with all my might!! I lash out, flail, and do anything possible to keep my head above water, utterly convinced that, somehow, my efforts will get me through. Others may take a different approach–they may try to run, fly, or do anything to avoid ‘getting wet.’ But the Lord calls us to Rest, Trust, and have Faith in Him. Float…
Both the Word and Spurgeon offer us assurance when a flood of trials or difficulties swirl about (but, I confess, I’m still learning):
“….Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by My name, you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you…For I am the Lord you God, The holy one of Israel, your Saviour.” Isaiah 43:1-3
“You made men ride over our head; we went though fire and through water; Yet, You brought us out into a place of abundance!” Psalm 66:12
Spurgeon:
“You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled (by God) to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength had you not been supported amid the flooding waters. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity the more it is exercised with tribulation..”
He goes on to say, we don’t need to seek out trials..they are plentiful enough, just as we know Eeyore didn’t choose to go in for a swim one day :-).
Absolutegrace 
The world calls “floating” being “laid back”. I like to “float” with my favorite Word, the 23rd Psalm. (PS, Eeyore is one of my favorite characters too!)
One other note: The following old hymn comes to mind:
TRUST AND OBEY:
1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)
3. But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)
4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Thanks for sharing such a restful, ‘floating’ hymn! It’s probably not one that many would associate with Eeyore, but I love the connection!
Jenny has written a beautiful poem on floating/resting in the Lord, and I’d like to see if she’d allow me share it here. I know it would bless many!!
We ARE Eeyoure and Pooh–John’s the former, I, the latter—note any resemblance?? 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and for the awesome comments!
Linda
Dear Linda, what an amazing post. First of all I loved the pictures you posted with your blog post. And the way you connected Eeyore’s floating with faith… there is something in Eeyore that touches my heart. I don’t always understand him. Sometimes he complains too much, but then when you get to know him, you find out that there’s really no mean bone in him. You were soooo creative in using this little story to emphasize faith at work. Maybe someday soon, I’ll also be able to do a post on another favorite cartoon strip of mine – Calvin and Hobbes.
Have a great Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore day!
Christopher Robin and I walked along …
What a wonderful way to describe faith and our need to rest in the Lord, no matter the situation. As you described, our first reaction is to flail around and try to get out of the uncomfortable mess we’ve gotten ourselves into (speaking about myself, of course).
Be blessed.
Thanks! The Lord reveals Himself through a variety of means, eh? 🙂 I still hope to post my sis-in-laws’ poem about resting in the Lord–not treading, not slashing, but floating! Blessings, Linda
In these troubling times we must learn to get along and to help and have faith in the Lord. What is happening in Congress (not getting along) and with some of our fellow citizens as well as the rest of the world is not the way. What a wonderful way to illustrate faith by showing the original Pooh pictures. What courage these little ones had and what fun!
Susan,
Thank you for your encouraging comment! We certainly can learn a lot of lessons from Pooh and other children’s stories. In fact, the Lord calls us to trust Him like little children–rest and float!