Saved from the Sea

I never knew until now that my friends have long considered me "not cautious" and "risky" in the ocean, and I recently discovered that it's probably true...

This past Sunday my friends and I were swimming about waist deep - me, Courtney, Amber, and Tim. In the course of a minute, Courtney and Amber felt like the waves were getting too high and headed back, while Tim and I stayed put without much thought, simply finding the waves "extra fun". As I write this, I want to call myself an idiot, but let me remind you that this is all happening in a matter of seconds...

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I noticed shortly thereafter that I could no longer touch the bottom, so I waited a moment for the tide to recede...except it didn't...and the waves were suddenly building to heights of at least 10 feet. I looked to my right - Tim was several feet from me, saying we needed to head back. I looked in front of me - Amber and Courtney were close to shore, and our friend Chamba (whose beach house we were at) must've just entered the water. He started motioning for us to come back. I looked behind...just as a massive wave was rising to swallow me. I figured I could ride it out. But after it passed...and another...and another...I realized I was only getting further and further from shore. I tried swimming forward but got nowhere, and then I remembered the golden rule: swim parallel to shore when you can't get back. So I tried that...but it got me nowhere. "How are you over there?!" Tim yelled out to me...and all I could answer was "Scared". He said he was too. I started to yell for help.

The thought definitely occurred to me in this moment, "I might die out here." And I started to pray outloud for God to come help me. I told myself not to panic because I knew that would make my condition worse...but I'm quite sure I did, regardless of my efforts to stay calm...I knew I was in trouble.

Just then I noticed that Chamba was swimming out to us. He grabbed me by the arm and started pulling me - pulling me...he said he couldn't touch either, he said everything was okay but then turned around and asked Tim for help (who obviously couldn't because he was in the same situation)...how was he pulling me toward shore when the waves were now even higher? I kept swallowing water. Tim was furiously swimming.

And then, moments later, all 3 of us made it back to standing water! I walked back to shore in a daze of shock, on the verge of vomiting from all the salt and panic. Chamba had risked his life for me! (I later thought about how his real name is "Salvador," which means "Savior" and told him his name must've been prophetic).

The Lord saved my life that day - and not just mine - I know there must've been angels pulling us back. I just found out that two weeks ago more than 14 people drowned near the same beach during one of the high tides. It's sobering to think of how fragile life is, how quickly it can be lost. I recounted the story to my mother later that evening. "At what hour did all this happen?" she asked. I told her and she replied, "That was the very hour I felt lead to pray for you today...I had no idea how urgent it was!"

How many times do I worry about my life and what I'm doing with it, where I'm going with it...yet if God is willing to save me from drowning in the ocean, surely He will take care of everything else! I love the quote, "I am immortal until my work on earth is done." Of course this shouldn't translate, "Do all the most daring things you can think of to risk your life and you still won't die". I do believe God has my days numbered, and that each one is a gift with a special purpose. How much more do I believe that now! I was never so happy to wake up on a Monday morning in my life!!

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me" - Psalm 34:4

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1