Headed for Trouble

“I call to you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.  Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”

Psalm 17:6-7

I couldn’t stop it!  I was caught and being pulled up somewhere that I should not be going.  I didn’t mean for this to happen!  The forces of fluid dynamics were working against me.  I tried to remember what my scuba instructor told me to do in such situations, but I couldn’t think fast enough or act fast enough. 

Deep under water, there are no sounds.  So I couldn’t cry out.  My scuba instructor was too far away for me to grab.  I tried to make motion so he might see something, but I couldn’t get his attention. 

Slowly, my body drifted to the surface of Agana Bay, Guam.  Slowly, I knew I was headed to a surface where there were jet skiers, kayakers, and boaters all out for their Saturday fun on the water.  I didn’t know what would meet me at the surface.  I was caught by the natural laws of buoyancy and couldn’t remember how to work my scuba gear to protect myself.

I’ve never forgotten those moments of feeling like I was out of control and headed for trouble.  While being stationed with the Navy on the Pacific Island of Guam, I learned how to scuba dive.  Within my first week of being on the island, many of the other military officers told me that I must learn to scuba dive.  Guam was known for its excellent dive spots with amazing coral reefs and sunken ships from previous wars.  I had come there for adventure and to learn new things so I was game to try it.  In fact, I did more than try.  I purchased all the scuba gear before my first lesson.  I had the wet suit, goggles, and the BCD (buoyancy control device) with my favorite colors – purple and yellow.

My first lesson was a group lesson where we only went 15 feet down.  It was a test of our gear and how well we followed the instructor’s words.  Knowing I needed more, I asked my instructor for a private lesson so he took me to Agana Bay.  He reviewed the basics and underwater we went.  If you have never been scuba diving, then let me tell you the underwater world is further proof of God’s creative design.  The colors are breath-taking and the order of the ecosystem is perfect.  After we swam a while, my instructor turned his back on me.  That’s when I did something to my BCD that caused air to get into it, and I headed against my will to the surface.  At first, I couldn’t remember what to do.  Then when I remembered to press the air out, I couldn’t do it.  My poor instructor was horrified when he came to the surface and found me.  He never took his eye off me again.

Have you ever felt like you were on a path that you couldn’t leave?  Maybe it is that unsatisfying job that you are thankful that you have, but you know it is not God’s plan for you.  Maybe it is that addiction that you don’t know how to stop.  Maybe it is that man that you know that you should not be dating much less marrying.  Maybe it’s your mouth that you never learned to tame that causes so much strife in your relationships.  How do we stop being sucked into something that is less than God’s plan for us or possibly even dangerous for us?  How?

Unlike my scuba instructor who couldn’t hear me, our God hears.  Many Scriptures in the Bible describe people calling out to gods who cannot hear.  They have no ability to hear cries for help.  Not only are they deaf, they are powerless to save.  If we cry out to God, He will hear us.  When He hears, He acts on our behalf.  Sometimes He literally saves us from the clutches of the immediate danger.  Always, He seeks a long-term spiritual rescue.  Because God is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness, He prioritizes our spiritual needs over earthly needs.

Do you need help getting off the wrong path and onto the right path?  God is one sincere cry for help away.  Believe Him that He will hear.  Believe Him that He will come to your aid.  Believe Him that He will work in your life.  Ask and believe!

Pray with me:  Oh, God, we cry out to You!  Father, some of us are on the wrong path.  We have either stayed on the right path too long and not been willing to leave it when You were leading us in a new direction, or we were on a path that we never should have taken.  We need You!  Hear us when we cry!  When You hear, You act.  Take us down Your paths of righteousness.  It is in Jesus’ Name, the Name above all names that we pray, Amen.

Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry