Psalm 37:38
A friend of mine and her family were at the beach this week and while having a great time in the sea her husband got taken away by a ’rip current’ and had to be rescued by the coastal lifeguards.
’I thought he was a goner’ she said, fear and panic gripped me until I saw him delivered well and alive to the shores.
What a relief!
A very similar story like that of the Kiwi teenager Joshua McQuoid who was swept away by a strong wave and pulled under the surf. After the call for help by his friends and an unsuccessful attempt by a German tourist who tried to rescue him, two police officers jumped in, and before long, a human chain formed to pull the teen to shore. After the ordeal, which McQuoid described was like being inside a washing machine, he was taken to hospital and released after a night of observation in great recovery.
We love rescues stories. Each of us battles with waves and rough seas day-to-day and that hope to be rescued is ingrained deep within us. We know life is to hard, too much and to dangerous to not have a rescuer to call.
God does that for all who call to him and know his faithfulness. He comes and rescues us from sin and shame, from death and destruction. Even in the middle of pain, temptation, tribulation and despair he is with us holding our hand and whispering hope and strength to our heart.
The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.”
Psalms 37:39 NLT
( See 2 Corinthians 1:10, Job 5:15, Zechariah 9:16, Jeremiah 39:17)