We’d hiked down to our favorite spot of beach. An isolated stretch on the island with only a strip of dusty sand next to the inlet which, a few hundred yards away, rounded under a bridge and into the ocean. While everyone else flocked to the ocean, we often came to this place late in the day.
We faced the sun, beginning its afternoon descent on the other side of the inlet. The water was shallow for several yards out and then dropped off quickly, perfect for wading among the schools of mullet with a cast net. I leaned back and watched Dan work the net, part of it anchored in his mouth and the rest draped heavily over his arm. He walked slowly through the shallows, throwing the net in a wide circle and dragging it back in every time he saw a school of mullet pass through.
Our toddler played nearby in the water. This waveless salty river provided a safe spot for playing in the knee-high water and he walked about securely near his dad but not too far out.
It was a perfect lazy way to wrap up a day at the beach. I relaxed on the soft sand, watching Dan and keeping a close eye on our little one as the late afternoon sun beat down. And then, just like that, my toddler took one step too far.
I could see fear instantly in his eyes as water came up to his nose and he couldn’t get his footing. I jumped up and splashed out to grab him by the arm just as he went under completely. Pulling him out of the water, I carried him up to the beach, put a warm towel around him and snuggled him close.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16
Have you been there? Where life was sunny and relaxing and fun and then you were up to your eyeballs in deep water? Perhaps you’re at a point where the water is washing over you and you aren’t sure if you’ll ever see the sun again?
There is One who has not taken His eye off you. He sees you even when you feel like the deep waters are closing around you.
David sang this psalm in praise when God delivered him from all of his enemies. When David said that God “drew” him out of deep waters, that word is only used elsewhere in Exodus 2:10, when Pharaoh’s daughter drew Moses out of the water.
Both times, God rescued. Both times, God sovereignly in complete control of the water and the one in the water.
I am right now in prayer for several dear friends walking through deep waters. I have prayed these verses in faith many times over my own family. Maybe you are praying this kind of prayer too.
The depth of the water is not a measure of God’s love. No matter how deep it gets, no matter how rough it seems, no matter how hard the struggle.
God’s love is measured in this — while I was dead in my sin, Christ died for me. His life for mine.
He rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19
And that right there is the rescue. He delights in you so much that He reached down from on high and took hold of you and drew you out of the deep waters that would have covered you for all eternity.
My friend that I’m praying for, who has walked with me through my own nose-deep water, says, “I’m pretty sure I’m His favorite.”
Right in the midst of the deep water. Because she has a Rescuer. And He delights in her.
What a wonderful Father we have–that He makes us ALL feel like His favorite!
I’m so glad you were there to rescue your toddler! Such a great illustration of our great God rescuing us!
Yes…I just laughed when she said that b/c of course we all feel THAT special to our Heavenly Father.
Thank you Sweet Lisa!! Your post are always such a blessing and remind us of the tremendous love the Father has for each of us.
Beth, I continue to fervently pray for you and I pray that you and your daughters do feel God’s strong love all over you.
thanks so much for this because I’m going thru the deep waters now with my son our relationship is being strained and it is tearing me up because I love my children so much we were so close to each other until now at a very special time in his and my life he is having his first child a son and our first grandchild which I have always been looking forward to I always said I would be the grandmother you never had and now we (me and his dad) will not get to experience the birth so sad! They also live 4 hours away. A very sad time in our lives
I’m so sorry Traci. This is so hard and I pray that God will bring healing and show you some steps of restoration.
Lisa,
I sit amazed at the illustrations God gives you. So good! Thank you for comforting all of us no matter what we’re going through as you continue to walk through the waters.
Love you dearly,
Rene’
Love you back friend.
Lisa,
What vivid imagery. I can literally see i plucking me out of the water. I can also see Him (from the book of Jude) reaching into the fire and snatching me out. But HE never takes His eye off me. Mmm and that is good news today friend. Thank you. Happy to join you from Titus 2sDay linkup.
Thank you Tyra! Thankful for His promise and strong arms!
Thanks so much for posting this – I need a reminder that God is always there ready to rescue me when I step out into the deep water. Sometimes I think I can swim but God is always there to be sure I never drown. Thanks for the reminder. Blessings. (Linked up from Titus 2sday)
Yes, thank you for visiting Rebecca.
Wow, this reminded me about my season of deep waters!!!! And when I experienced that waters around me, I also experienced the Presence of my God, faithful and always the same no matter what.
Thanks for sharing and encouraging me in this season of my life, where I know I still surrounded by waters, but focusing my eyes on Him.
Blessings,
Tayrina from TGAWrites
Yes, Tayrina, that’s the amazing thing, isn’t it? The waters might be deep, but God’s presence is deeper still.
I so appreciate what you say here and completely agree with you that the gospel is the answer and the only truth that matters. I still struggle at times though to experience joy and freedom and peace even when nothing is ‘wrong’. Once you have been to the place where “life was sunny and relaxing and fun and then you were up to your eyeballs in deep water” it is hard to enjoy the sunny and relaxing and fun again. The deep water is always there haunting and taunting. God certainly sustained me through the deep water but I so want to move past it more fully.
Amy, oh boy do I understand that! Fear has been a very real battle for me after my husband died suddenly. Fear steals so much from us. I wrote about overcoming fear here. https://lisaappelo.com/say-farewell-to-fear-part-i/
Lisa, thank you so much for sharing your words and your heart! This blessed me as I find myself wading through some deep waters. I know He is with me and will continue to rescue me. God bless and keep you!
~Ashley
Ashley, I’m sorry for your hard circumstances. Grateful for a faithful God. Many blessings to you.
THIS—> “The depth of the water is not a measure of God’s love. No matter how deep it gets, no matter how rough it seems, no matter how hard the struggle.”
I love this! Great post, thanks for the encouragement!
Stopping in from Holley’s for coffee 😉
Thank you Rachel. Yes, a truth God so lovingly drove home to me!
I’m so glad I stopped by today from Tell His Story! I love how you illustrated Psalm 18:16 so well. I immediately felt that fear and realized those places in my life that I’ve taken one step too far. I’m so grateful for that embrace of God to pull me out.
I’m really trying to learn this deep: “He rescued me because he delighted in me.” It’s so stinkin’ easy for me to forget! But I feel like He has me in such a place where He is just speaking truth over and over (and allowing lies to bubble up to the surface so He can get rid of them) and this is helping me tremendously! Thank you for being a part of the reinforcement team!
So true, Jen. The Word > lies every morning. One day without and my thoughts are not great. Good to see you!
Thank you for your blog Lisa. I am so glad I stopped to read today. I too am going through deep waters. As someone puts it , I am experiencing heavy storms. Although the storms are threatening and ugly my loving Father has put a marker and says so far and no further. I praise and thank him for being with me and helping me and my daughter through.
I do not have many real friends although I know many people. So now like Holly Gerth I have another friend I can visit whenever I like.
May God bless you Lisa.
Cindy
Cindy, yes and yes. Even in the worst storm, God is sovereign. Praying for peace in your storm and that you will see God’s lovingkindness.
This is written beautifully and very encouraging Lisa! Thank you for sharing it on the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week!
Thank you for hosting. I look forward to more Mondays! 🙂
My favorite line….My friend that I’m praying for, who has walked with me through my own nose-deep water, says, “I’m pretty sure I’m His favorite.”
How sweet God is that He can make us all His sweethearts!!
I just loved this!
I needed to hear this today – “The depth of the water is not a measure of God’s love. No matter how deep it gets, no matter how rough it seems, no matter how hard the struggle.” Beautiful. Thank you for sharing! I love the verse about Him rescuing us because He delights in us! God has been speaking to my heart that He delights in me this week, so reading your post was a confirmation of that truth.
Blessings sweet one,
Kamea
I have definitely had Him reach down and grab me a time or 2. So thankful God’s love never changes or shifts like the tide!