Surprise! Drowning Can Be a Good Thing!

Surprise! Drowning Can Be a Good Thing!

Drowning? Good? Yup. It can be! Just read on … Has life ever overwhelmed you to the point that you feel like you’re drowning? If misery loves company, move over. Life is like that for every single person on the planet. If you haven’t had the pleasure so far, get ready—it’s a-coming. John 16:33 contains one of those I-have-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-I-don’t-want-to-hear-it promises. Too bad it was Jesus saying it—leaves no question about it coming to pass. Sad face, kinda. The good thing about that verse is that Jesus didn’t stop at the I-don’t-want-to-hear-it part (“in the world ye SHALL have tribulation). He tacked on a glorious, wondrous promise at the end of it: “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Life can be appallingly cruel—but there is Someone Who will walk with us every step of the way. Someone Who is not surprised at the turn of events (Isaiah 46:9-10). Someone Who knows how to lead us through the valley of despair and help us climb the mountain of victory (John 10:10). His name is Jesus. My Auntie Trinie loved to tease her sister, Grandma Maria, by singing a song Grandma abhorred. It said, “When you’ve tried everything and everything has failed, try Jesus.” It was so much fun to see Grandma’s gander get up and have her sputter, “What do you mean ‘when you’ve tried everything’???? The FIRST thing you should do is turn to Jesus!” Grandma was right. And in a perfect world, that’s what we’d do. However, Psalm 142 was written for a reason. Verses one through three say: !“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.!I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.! When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.” The psalmist is putting forth a process he has a learned about through experience , a process through which the hand of God is touched. When our spirit is passionate about our situation (like when we are drowning!), then God reaches down and intervenes. Some “lucky” souls reach that critical mass stage early on in their tribulation. Most of us more mundane folk, however, have to go through the grinder before we think to look up with our whole heart. Some of us, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, have to reach a point of excruciating need before our soul cries out earnestly to God. We have to live Psalm 39:74, which says, “When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God.” I can look back time and again to crises in my life and see how God stepped in at the point when I really, really cried out to Him from the depths of my heart. As a young 18 year old in the throes of loving every thing “missionary” I looked forward to a foray into the Veracruzan jungles. Unfortunately, I also found myself plagued with serious intestinal problems. In just a few days Auntie Trinie and I were to travel by boat down a river in the Veracruz jungle for not one, not two, but three hours. That boat did not boast a bathroom. Should I beg off of the trip? I didn’t feel that was the thing to do, but how would I be able to actually travel that length of a time with the condition I was battling? Then, in the twinkling on an eye, peace flooded my agonized soul. God knew. Didn’t He have my life in His hands? If He was giving me peace about going on this trip, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt He would help me with that tormenting condition. And He did. The morning of the trip dawned and , wouldn’t you know it, I couldn’t find hide nor hair of that infuriating problem! It was all gone! Aside from a little fear (the boat was so crowded, it dipped down into the river with just a little lip above it) the trip was a resounding success! Just last week a new pain in my body caused me to question whether I would be able to continue helping someone in need in our family. After praying for several days, my heart cried out to God in desperation. “Lord, please give me a sign about whether I should continue helping or not.” If my body was going to struggle to the point of not being able to perform the duties needed, if the path before me was going to necessitate doctor visits and examinations, I needed to let my family know so steps to replace me could be taken in a timely fashion. And yes, I believe in divine healing. I have also learned that sometimes God uses doctors. Although I had been praying about my situation, this was a definite level up. As I sent that desperate prayer heavenward, I bent to perform part of my familial duty—and the excruciating pain—poof—instantly, totally disappeared. Leaving me with the indubitable knowledge that this path I am on is God’s will for me at this time. He will give me the strength and stamina necessary. The aforementioned examples might be health related, but I have had my share of glorious intervention with regard to financial needs and critical life decisions. No matter the need, God is there. Recently we were asked to pray for a dear lady who has had a return of cancer. I can’t believe I have come to the place in life where I’m in total accord with good ol’ James telling us to be thankful for tribulations (James 1:2-4). Who’d a “thunk” it? I am over the moon grateful to be able to tell that dear soul that my life experience has confirmed what God’s word says time and again. He said He would walk with us through the valley of the very shadow of death, and He will (Psalm 23:4). He said He is and ever will be our help in time of trouble and He is (Psalm 121). We don’t have to wring our hands in worry and fear. No matter how big and horrible the situation seems to us, He’s got it. No matter how deep the water you are drowning in, He’s strong enough to pull you out.

So, what are you waiting for? Do it! Call out to Him! He will pull you out of that disaster that wants to overwhelm you and you will come out victorious! “For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (Deuteronomy 20:4). “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ“ (2 Corinthians 2:14).