One beautiful, perfectly sunny day at the New Jersey seaside, my siblings and I were playing around in the walloping waves as we had done many times in the days and weeks before.
Knowing what strong swimmers we were, champions of the Great Valley summer team relay squad – ages 11, 13, and 16 to be oddly specific – we always stretched the limits of what was water “safe.” If ever a current decided to sweep us off our steady feet, or a sneaky slap from the colossal surf happened to catch us by surprise, we always managed to get back up and start the fun all over again- a little wiser and wet for the wear. We researched like all the teen swimmers our age, by watching hours and hours of Baywatch and the summer Olympics. We felt nothing could stop us.
However, one time, none of that mattered. No matter how we prepared or how strong our wills were– we were reminded of how powerful the elements can be and were swallowed by something much bigger than we ever imagined.
In a matter of moments, our frolicking quickly turned to panic, as we were suspended within the incessant pulls of an invisible rip current. My older sister, younger brother and I were plucked from each other’s grips and sent sailing away from the safety of the shoreline at warp speed. No amount of wrestling the waves could free us, in fact as all the research truly tells you- it only made things worse.
My sister made a quick decision, with a sorrowful look thrown in my direction, to fight with all her strength toward our little brother, who was quickly drifting further from us. And as I watched her swim away, she screamed she would come back for me.
And this my friends, is the last thing I actually remember.
But that was not the end of the story.
Help came.
Not from my sister, parent, or even a lifeguard.
Rather, from a complete stranger.
A man who was nowhere around us earlier in the fun or in the frightening moments, but who had suddenly appeared.
Grabbing my hand, he challenged the sea and it’s swells, then swooped me up in the safety of his arms, and carried me to the shore.
My family raced to rejoin me, embracing me, and searching the whole horizon for the stranger to thank him.
But he was nowhere to be found.
My sister can recall every moment of the day. She tells me this story all the time. But, the part she says will stay ingrained in her mind is what the stranger looked like.
She says he was older, but so incredibly strong, with a presence and power moving through the water like no one she had ever seen before.
And his hair was silver and white, almost to the point of glowing.
She remembers so well how he cradled me closely as he carried me safely to the sand.
She tells me time and time again that the stranger was no stranger at all. He was an angel.
Truth is…we all need rescuing.
Sometimes it’s from the wickedness of the world. Sometimes it’s from the voices swimming inside our heads. Sometimes it’s from a silent swell that tries to pull us far away from what is safe and sound.
But there will always be things that try to take us under, no matter who we are and how strong we think we can be.
What will we do?
Will we fight the storm with our own might, conjuring up the courage to stand firm against the constant knocking of waves?
Will we cower to the chaos, eventually giving in to the temptations and tricks spinning around us?
Or will we reach for the hand that saves?
The best news for us: there’s not usually just one huge, hurry-up scenario like my seaside scare in which we need rescuing. We need it all the time, which gives us millions of moments to surrender and admit that we need heavenly help from a hero. And it’s never too late.
This weekend, walk with the One who loves you so much, that He gave up everything so you could have everything.
Repeat the words, “Jesus loves me, this I know…” as if you are a small child, with each breath bringing more belief than the first.
And if you still don’t know it or believe it deep in your heart- pick up that storybook filled with saving grace, mountains climbed through mercy, epic failures and freedom found, all from a steadfast love that knew no limits.
You are worth saving.
In all our weaknesses, in all our wrongs, when we’ve sailed away in search of something better, or been knocked down and swept out lost in the sea, no hope in sight.
Reach for the hands that are strong enough to bring you back and carry you through it all.
Jesus loves you.
Say it, sing it, shout it, or whisper it. But believe it.
Now friends, close your eyes and remember what He did for you and the very holes that proved it so.
