by WhisperPenStay calm, trust and don’t panic.
Six short words that sound so easy to do unless you’re in the midst of what may appear an unavoidable disaster.
We don’t deliberately position ourselves to be in the center of such dilemmas, although it may seem that some of us have a knack of getting into such situations without any hesitation. It is not without incident that I on occasions feel most skilled in this unfavorable gift.
An early experience of placing these six simple words into practice occurred on an idyllic Saturday afternoon in early January 1969. It was the peak of the swimming carnival season; I was 13 and selected to compete in the regional championships to be held that evening. Although I was at the peak of my fitness and swimming my best times, my usual pre-race jitters were rampant.
To alleviate this tension, a delightful distraction was suggested. A drive to the beach for a swim. How could I ever resist such fun, so off the South Coast surf we drove.
Upon arrival, mum & dad parked the car on the car beside the steps on the cliff top high above of the beach below, opened their thermos of hot tea and settled into a relaxing afternoon while I was sent packing down to the surf beach below to swim away all my anxieties and return relaxed, ready for the night’s events.
I swiftly ran down those stairs, scampered over the warm sand and dived into the cool tumbling ocean without a care in the world. The freedom of being rolled around in the giant waves was absolute bliss.
I swam and swam for what seemed hours, forgetting to keep my focus the shore.
All my anxieties had vanished, and it seemed time to return to the car. It was then I noticed the current has pulled me quite a distance from the beach. As I set my course to swim back to shore, it became very apparent I was now caught in a rip. A very strong, narrow, current that was quickly pulling me far out into the sea. I was in a helpless situation.
The beach was unpatrolled, I was all alone in the water, and mum & dad were beyond sight.
My vain attempt to fight against the current proved utterly useless, no matter how hard I tried to swim back to shore, the current persisted in dragging me further out to sea.
An exercise that was quickly exhausting me.
To survive, it was vital I not panic but stay in control and salvage whatever remaining strength I had left to figure out how to stay alive. As the current continued to drag me further out, the second plan of escape occurred, to swim across the current, catch a wave enabling its force take me back to shore.
I could see the waves rolling across just a few hundred meters away, so with the full focus on the shoreline to check my track, I started to strongly swim my way across the current. This was not without event, for after a while, tired and exhausted I attempted to stand hoping to feel the soft sand securely under my feet, but instead was greeted with the chilling sensation of unforgiving jagged rocks eager to slice my feet. The scare created a such a rush of adrenaline, that I suddenly regained my strength and at once refocused on the shore and reaching the waves ahead.
Finally, a towering swell of dark blue water came rapidly rolling towards me, I instantly turned towards the shore and swam with all my might, powerfully pounding each stroke gathering enough speed to capture my rescuing ride to shore. At last success, the commanding wave picked me up a carried me safely to the warm sandy shore.
The best ride to shore a 13 year old ever had.
Safe on land, and way off track, I now take the long walk back, to find the steps leading to the car.
When I returned, mum and dad were oblivious to my near-death experience, and so was everyone else in the world. Not a soul was aware of the battle for my life that afternoon. I brushed the sand off my feet, climbed in the car and off we drove, all calm and prepared, for the Regional Swimming carnival that evening.
On the drive home I told of nearly being thrust out to sea in a rip, swimming across current to catch a wave back, and ending up way down the other end of the beach nearly landing on jagged rocks, but alas, the ramifications of the afternoon’s event was not at all comprehended and so it was never mentioned again.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified … for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
I was all alone in the ocean, and was all alone as I applied those six little words; Stay calm, trust and don’t panic. But I know that I was not alone in my battle that day. For nothing catches God by surprise.
Although it shouldn’t be, there are periods in life where it feels like we have to face the most insurmountable of challenges alone. Just as there are times, we can be surrounded by crowds of people and yet feel so desperately alone.
Maybe you are experiencing that right now, feeling trapped or powerless to fight against the current as your being pulled out to the depth of the sea, far beyond what you can bear and beyond your own strength to fight.
The oceans water was both my enemy and my salvation. If I surrendered to doubt, fear, and panic, the sea would become my enemy and I would have drowned alone in the turbulent ocean. However, it was that same perilous sea that yielded up those powerful waves with the saving power to safely carry me back to shore. The hidden riches within the storm.
Within each of us is the ability to make a choice. To choose life or death, hope or despair, calm or panic, trust or dismay. The decisions we make affect our destiny. It is alone, deep within us that those decisions are made. The ocean of defeat that seems to be drowning you can also be concealing the strength your given, to deliver your salvation.
Ask the Lord Jesus, what it is, that’s in in the midst of your storm, in the midst of your ocean of despair that can bring you safely back to shore. What strength do you have, what gift can you call upon that you have, that can carry you back. He will show you. He always makes a way of escape, He will always come to our rescue. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or ever imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Stay calm, trust and don’t panic.
Stay focused on God and keep your eyes on what can save you. Although I was surrounded by water, it was the waves that carried me to shore.
Just as I returned my focus to the shore, and swam across the current to catch the wave, so you too can swim across the current of your storm and catch your wave safely back to shore.
You can do it too.
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
