Many years ago I spent the summer as a chaplain at a junior camp in the northwest corner of Iowa. By chance I happened to look over the lake and to my horror a child was about to go down. It seems that the teenage lifeguard was more interested in a pretty girl in a bathing suit than he was in watching the swimmers. I never bothered to call to him I just raced for the lake. In a few moments I was with a small boy only to discover he was a member of my church. When I arrived he, like so many frightened drowning people, fought with me. As calmly as I could I called into his ear, “Joel, it’s Pastor Bothwell.” It was miraculous. Instantly, he relaxed into my arms and soon we were safely on shore.
So often the pressures of career, family, health and life in general make us feel like we are going down. We don’t seem to be able to metaphorically keep our heads above water. It is then that, if we listen carefully, we can hear Jesus calling to us, “It’s Jesus and I have you.” He did promise. “Lo, I am with you always.” He is the good shepherd and has promised to lead us even through the valley of death. See Psalm 23. One of my favorite passages is found in Psalm 139, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
If we trust Him and relax in His arms, we will soon be safely ashore.
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 24, 2017
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