A good friend of mine was sharing a story with me about how her and her husband had nearly drowned some
time ago. They both were out in the ocean, enjoying each other’s company. They began discussing, ironically, what it takes to save a person from drowning when you are unable to touch bottom. Her husband, being trained in water survival, began explaining the process to her. Soon my friend realized that she was not able to touch bottom herself. Her husband could not either. They began being pulled by a strong undertow. They were quickly becoming separated.
My friend panicked. She began to fight against the current and waves. She was losing the fight. She took off her shorts that were weighing her down. As time went on, she lost sight of her husband and the sound of his voice. She wondered if he were dead. Her strength was gone. She knew that she was in terrible danger. She thought of their children. She turned on her back and began praying to God.
Unknown to her, her husband from a distance had been frantically shouting for a lifeguard. Turning down being rescued himself, he pointed for the lifeguard to go to her. She was pulled half-naked onto the kayak of the lifeguard. Her husband used the little strength he had left to make one final push over a wave and found himself collapsing on the shore next to her.
Though both her and her husband “knew” exactly what they needed to do in that very situation, still they both nearly drowned that day. My friends older children were somewhere on the beach that day, oblivious to the perils their parents were facing. After finding their parents “resting” on the beach they remained clueless to what was almost lost that day. Yet my friend and her husband have never forgotten. They gained a new
appreciation for what matters most.
So, where did they go wrong? Perhaps the more important question is, “Where am I going wrong?” What is slowly pulling me out to sea? In what areas of my life am I trying with all my strength simply to stay afloat? What do I need to turn over and give completely to God? Do I truly trust that though I may not see Jesus or hear his audible voice, he is still alive and working my salvation in those areas where I need him most? Am I willing to expose the areas of my life that may cause embarrassment in order to be rescued from them? If I don’t what can be lost? These are the questions that matter most.
“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.”
- Job 6:24
