Malibu, CA
As we crested the hill to snake our way downward toward the shore, we saw something odd floating across the sky.
At first we assumed low lying clouds. But as we got further down we could see this cloudy substance was more charcoal colored than the surrounding clouds. And they seemed to be attached to each other in somewhat of a straight line.
Cars were pulled to the side of the road with people standing alongside the cliffs, staring and pointing at something down below.
Something off the shoreline.
Something in the deep.
We began to suspect the murky line was smoke. When we rounded another bend and got our first glimpse of the ocean we saw it.
Two-hundred yards from shore was a mid-sized cruiser— on fire!
Now we could clearly see black smoke billowing from the deck. Other boats were circled around it, helplessly watching the destruction.
Then we noted with relief, a swimmer was closing the gap between the devastation and the waiting salvation of the boat.
His rescue was imminent.
When we are sailing along at full-speed in smooth waters and cloudless skies, we rarely expect–
That bump,
That jagged rock,
That boat wrecking event that stops us in our tracks.
We flounder and flail as we realize our security is in flames.
Our ship is sinking.
Panic ensues yet there is one last resort— our only resort unless we want to go down with the ship.
So we jump,
We bail,
We breaststroke away from the mess, the turmoil, the sorrow.
But as we weaken and the waters close over our heads, we feel a strong hand beneath our feet, guiding us back to the surface, propelling us to safety.
And a voice that gently calms our fears and our heart that is despairing.“I’m glad you finally figured it out…the only way I can rescue you is for you to let go—
And jump!”
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Psalms 18:16, 19- He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
-When is the last time you felt like you were sinking?
-Thank God for all the times he has rescued you.