Drowning

“Master, master, we’re going to drown.”

On a boat trip across the lake a squall had started. Fear permeated the hearts of grown men as water lapped over the edge of the boat.

Sometimes that’s what life feels like for people. Like they are going to drown. Drowning in debt, drowning in fear, drowning in boredom — drowning.

Whether the situation is real or perceived doesn’t really matter. The pulse quickens, the chest gets heavy, eyelids droop, tears flow …

The problem with drowning is that we’re always looking at the wrong thing — we look at the circumstance. Yes, there is a squall. Yes, there is water in the boat. Yes, the sky is black. All true statements but none of them really matter.

What matters is what we have our eyes focused on. I’m no different than anyone else. I look at the situation and yell at the top of my lungs “I’M DROWNING!” Gasp, choke, gasp! Is anybody listening?

Nope. Usually people who are drowning are drowning alone. No one else knows.

For one split second though the face changes its gaze — UP! There He is.

Jesus is fast asleep. No worries. With simple trust in His Father He has His eyes fixed on the right person.

That’s all I gotta do.

“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” He asked His disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water and they obey him.”  Luke 8:22-25