When I was a young teen we traveled south to the beach. During our time there I came to befriend some of the lifeguards. I was asked to pretend I was drowning to test some of the newer lifeguards.
I agreed and being an excellent swimmer took off for deep waters. I was confident I could fool these newbies, put them to the test as asked and be back on shore within a few minutes.
As I swam farther out, the seas became rough and my feet no longer touched the ocean floor. I treaded water for a while and then began to splash around and panic as I was asked. It was then that I truly began to sink. I was tired, my arms and legs begged for a rest. No one was there to hold me up or lean on and I could no longer keep my head above water. I was scared, screaming for help and gulping saltwater, believing I might die.
All of a sudden, a hand came under my chin and lifted my head out of the water. I heard “just rest, I’ve got you.” A lifeguard was pulling me to safety, but I didn’t know if I was going to make it until I was on shore, had my breath and could stand again.
In the same way that lifeguard rescued me when I was a teen, God rescued me from the hand of my enemies as an adult. I was a prisoner, blinded from the truth and had gotten into such deep waters I was drowning. I was paralyzed in fear and could no longer function. I was desperate for someone to love me, to care about me. I called for help. I called for anyone, someone. It was then, while 10,000 miles from home and in my most broken state that suddenly a Hand lifted me from those deep waters, and delivered me to solid ground! A voice said, “rest in me, I’ve got you.” Our loving Father heard my cry and “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. (2 Samuel 22:17 NLT)
I will never forget where I came from and that it was Him who rescued me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are our loving God, full of mercy, compassion, and grace as you say you are. I love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and am SO thankful that you opened my heart to your love and drew me to You—the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Photo Credit
Photo by Ryan Loughlin on Unsplash