Slam! A stack of papers falls on the desk.

“More?” The lawyer gasps.

“More, ” concurs the clerk.

“I’m already drowning. I don’t see how I can get through these.”

“You’ll find a way,” he reassures him with a quick nod. “You always do.”

He glances with a smile. “Thank you, Ted.”

Ring! Ring!

He turns and answers the phone.

He clears his throat. “This is Shawn.” He pauses and sets his hand on the table. “I understand.” He hangs up the phone.

“What is it?”

“I have to go.” Shawn quickly grabs his peacoat off the leather chair, puts it on.

“What am I supposed to do with this case?”

“It can wait,” Shawn answers immediately. “Roger is in the ER.”

“How bad?”

“ICU.”

The door opens and he steps into a new set of doors where the smell of acetone and daisies coat the air. He walks fast towards room 405, steps inside.

“Roger!” Tears burst involuntarily as Shawn wraps his arms around his friend.

“You can’t get too close, Mister!” The nurse sounds. “I need to give him his IV and get to room 406 pronto.” He sticks the IV and wipes his brow. “I’m the only nurse on this floor since 4am,” he sighs. “I feel like I’m drowning.”

Shawn eyes him with compassion and steps forward. “Tell me what’s going on, son.”

“Too much to say and too little time,” says the nurse.

“I have all the time in the world,” Shawn responds. “Let me walk with you to 406 and you can tell me everything.” Shawn looks at Roger. “I’ll be back.” Roger nods back as Shawn.

Over the next hour, Shawn walked with the nurse, Deion, door to door, in between duties, all the while listening to his story.

“I can’t thank you enough, sir. You saved my life today. My only question is… why?”

“I saw an angel once,” Shawn’s eyes brighten. “She saved me from drowning when I couldn’t save myself. Now I live to pass on the favor.”

“For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.” Psalm 74:12-13

God commands the sea. God reigns over the ocean. God rescues His people from drowning.

When God saved you, He sets you ablaze you save the world with His love. Jesus’ disciples changed the world forever because of how Jesus loved them. His example inspired them with great faith.

In Matthew 14, Jesus saves His disciple, Peter, from drowning as Peter begins to sink.

“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:28-30

The same Lord who called you to Him is the same Lord who rescues you. He never steps away from being your King and confidante.

Cry out to the Lord and He will save you. Believe in the Lord and He will rescue you. Trust in the Lord and He will send His angels to watch over you from His own love ever-present with you. God knows every moment of your life before it ever happens. So, He can plan ahead to save you from every danger threatening your life. Let God be your God. Trust in His love to guard you.

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

God knows who is for you and against you. He also knows which angels war for His Kingdom and those who are with the devil, and He will utilize His own angels for His glory. God receives glory when He sends His angels to protect you.

God can hold back the waters to lead you forward with him, just as He did for Israel.

“But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Exodus 14:29

You cannot drown with God in charge of the sea. His command forces the waters to give you back. Even if you sink, you will rise. Even if you descend into the deepest canyon of the sea, God lift you out to ascend to the sky once again.

Faith calls you out into the waters. The greatness of your purpose may make you feel like you are drowning at times. Peter was the only one who was willing to step out of the stable boat to walk on unstable water with Jesus because his faith was great. And yet, he still struggled with maintaining that faith when on the waters in real time. But Jesus was pleased that Peter had faith to prompt his initial step. Jesus wants us to keep up the faith that we had at first, so that we can keep walking on the waters with Him.

“Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:31-33

Jesus reaches for you immediately when you are drowning. He does not wait. He dives down into the waters for you.

dive down for me

Jesus

dive down for me

Lord

swim to me

zealously

as all of me

lets all of You

surround me

with Your glory

save me

holy King

to Heaven’s beauty

“And they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

Luke 4:11