This reminds me of an excerpt from John Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress. Christian and Hopeful have arrived in their journey to the Celestial City. But they must pass through the River of Death to reach it al last. This is a bit long, but I share it because Pastor Bunyan is instructive to us in Christian's and Hopeful's experiences:
Now I further saw that between them and the gate was a River, but there was no bridge so that pilgrims might cross over; moreover, the River was very deep. So Christian and Hopeful were shocked at such a sight; but the men escorting them declared, “You must pass through this River or else you cannot arrive at the gate of the City. Then the pilgrims asked if there was any other way to the gate. The Shining Ones answered, “Yes, but no one else has been permitted to travel that way since the foundation of the world except Enoch and Elijah; and no others will be allowed until the sounding of the last trumpet.”
Then the pilgrims began to despair in their minds, and especially Christian; they looked this way and that way, but no alternative route could be found by which they could avoid the River. Then they asked the men if the water was all of the same depth. They replied “No,” but could offer no further help other than the comment, “You shall find it deeper or shallower according to your trust in the King of the place [this region].”
At this, the pilgrims resigned themselves to face the water. Upon entering, Christian began to sink so that he cried out to his good friend Hopeful, “I sink in deep water; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me!.” Then Hopeful replied, “Be of good cheer [be courageous], my brother, for I feel the bottom and it is firm.” Then said Christian, “Ah my friend, the sorrows of death have totally compassed [surrounded] me, so that I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey.” And with that a great darkness and sense of horror fell upon Christian so that he could not see ahead of him. Here, to a large degree, he also lost his senses so that he was unable to remember or talk intelligently about any of those sweet refreshments that he had experienced while traveling on pilgrimage. Rather all of his present talk tended to reveal the present terror of his mind and the fear that he would perish in that River and never gain entrance into the Celestial City. Here also, those who were able to stand by observed that he was greatly troubled with thoughts about the sins that he had committed, both before and after he became a pilgrim. It was also noticed that he was disturbed with visions of evil spirits; his words would reflect this over and over again. Therefore Hopeful struggled here in his attempts to keep his brother’s head above water; yes sometimes Christian would seem to have sunk down for good, and then after a short while he would rise again seeming half dead. Hopeful would also attempt to comfort him, saying, “Brother, I see the gate, and men standing nearby to welcome us.” But Christian would answer, “It is you, it is you they are waiting for; you have been hopeful ever since I first knew you.” “And so have you,” said Hopeful to Christian. “Ah brother,” replied Christian, “surely if I was right [with the King] he would come to my rescue; but on account of my sins, he has brought me to this snare to abandon me.” Then said Hopeful, “My brother, you have quite forgotten the text where it speaks of the wicked, ‘There is no pain in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.’ These troubles and distresses that you are experiencing in these waters are no indication that God has abandoned you; rather they are sent to test you as to whether you will recall to mind evidences of his past goodness, and now rely upon him in the midst of your present trials.” Then I saw in my dream that Christian was in deep thought for a while, so that Hopeful spoke to him further, “Be of good cheer [courageous], Jesus Christ makes you whole.” And with that, Christian exclaimed with a loud voice, “Oh I see him again! And he tells me, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.’” Then they both took courage, with the result that the enemy then became as still as a stone, until they had fully crossed over. Therefore Christian now discovered solid ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest of the River was found to be shallow. And thus they both crossed over.