One of the amazing stories that I had the privilege of hearing this past weekend was from a man who drowned as a child.  Now in his fifties, he can still recount the vivid details with tears in his eyes.  It was an “on the edge of your seat” type story – poignant and powerful.  That experience has marked his life all these years.  And he shares with full certainty that he knows that He was given a choice at that point to relax and die and go to heaven or to fight for life on earth.  He seemed to know at that specific moment, that God’s work for and through him on this planet wasn’t finished, and he chose life.  And that life has never been the same.

This dear man shared details that had his story playing out like a movie in my mind.  Details of light, darkness and shadows.  Details of pain, fear and peace.  Struggle and release. Of thoughts and people and the very voice of God.  It was spell-binding and I was mesmerized.

I have never heard a real-life story that held such analogies.

I have never heard a real-life story that related so well to what happens to us in life sometimes.  When circumstances feel just too big and overwhelming and we can’t breathe.  We feel it pulling us down and sucking the life right out of us.  Darkness closes in and we feel hopeless.  Alone.  All we want to do is give up and give in.

My new friend shared that during his drowning experience, he saw light fading away – the circle of light getting smaller and smaller in the surrounding darkness.  Just as it was about to disappear completely, he remembers thinking, “This is it.  Complete and total darkness is next.”  But just at the moment when the circle of light in his vision could not get any smaller, the darkness disbanded and there was nothing left but variations of light!  Light replaced darkness and hope replaced fear.  Once again he could see something worth fighting for.

There are very special people in my life who are struggling right now.  Drowning, as it were.  They don’t see a way out or a light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel they are walking in.

David, the psalmist in the bible, knew about darkness.  He knew about giants that were too big to fight, enemies that were too powerful to overcome.  He experienced deep grief and great fear.  But he also knew Whom he walked with through every “drowning” circumstance.

In Psalm 23 he writes, Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v.4).  It’s also been described as “the valley of death”.  The darkest, scariest place.  But David realized that he didn’t need to be afraid because he was in the hands of the Good Shepherd who would soon walk him “beside still waters” and lead him to “green pastures”.  He trusted that the hand would not let go and that he would come out on the other side with a deeper understanding of and a more intense love for his God.

Sweet friends, God has not forgotten or looked away.  Feel His hand and know that He is walking with you, carrying you when you are too tired and overwhelmed to go on.  Hear His voice in your ear telling you He loves you and will see you through.  Jesus calms the storms and walks on the water that you feel you are drowning in…hold on to Him….

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.