Faith Underwater

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own resources and focuses on the all-sufficient resources of God. When I was in my single-digit years, the family used to pile into our VW bug and head to the Jersey shore every Sunday morning. The waves were usually tame, but one day, I lost my footing in the undercurrent. As it pulled me down, I felt like table scraps being sucked into the in-sink-erator disposal. Under the water, I could see nothing, and I didn’t know which way was up. I couldn’t plant my feet on the ground; I was out of control and terrified. In my panic, I wanted to yell, “Help me!” but I was underwater. Suddenly, I felt my dad’s hand grab my shoulder like a magnet and lift me into his embrace. It was the sweetest feeling in the world. I yielded entirely to his strength. I didn’t resist his will; I reveled in it. I thought, “Thank you for your grip. Thank you for finding me. I need you. I love you! You’re great!” In that spirit of yielded affection, there was no room for bragging. Ironically, all of the attention was on me when we returned to our blanket on the beach.