I once read about a speedboat driver who had survived a racing accident. He said that he had been at top speed when his boat veered slightly and hit a wave at a dangerous angle. The combined force of his speed and the size and angle of the wave sent the boat spinning out of control into the air. He was thrown from his seat and propelled deeply into the water; so deep, in fact, he had no idea which direction the surface was. He had to remain calm and wait for the buoyancy of his life vest to begin pulling him up. Once he discovered which way was up, he could swim for the surface.
Sometimes, I think we are living in an age that doesn’t know which way is up, and that it is furiously fighting to find a way through. Maybe this is a condition of humanity that must be corrected, or the outcome will not be lovely. Isn’t it true that sometimes we find ourselves so surrounded by confusion and anger and countless options, that it is difficult to know which way is up? Ancient Israel sure had her problems. It seems that with her own heart of rebellion and the hostility of their neighbors all around them, she was drowning in the chaos, and didn’t know which way was up.
Fortunately, God raised up prophets and poets to draw them back to the heart of God. One of the poems is contained in Psalm 130, where the poet leads the people in worship calling them to draw near and remember their God. When they were in the depths of life, he called them to cry to God and to ask for help and hope and forgiveness. He called them not to panic but to “wait” (vs. 5-6). In the waiting, he called them to never lose “hope,” but to remember the “lovingkindness” and “abundant redemption of God” (vs. 7).
You may be out in “the depths,” the thought of survival is a million miles away, and you’re wondering if you’ll get through it. If you are, don’t panic. Remember the “lovingkindness” and “abundant redemption” of your God. Pour out your “supplications” (vs. 2) to your God, and trust. Wait. Pray. Cry to God. Hang on because you can be sure that God is hanging on to you.
There is an old adage that says, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That may be true, but some of us simply aren’t that tough, especially when we’re going down for the third time. I think a better adage is, “When the going gets tough, the wise person turns everything over to God, trusts the faithfulness of God, hopes in the promises of God, doesn’t panic, and takes hold of the hand that has already taken hold of theirs.”
What is that old promise of God? “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). Trust God, and do what His Word calls for you to do. God “takes hold of your right hand and says…I will help you.”
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