Lifeguard

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. ~ Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

During my college years, I used to earn some cash each summer by lifeguarding at a local swimming pool in Fresno, California. I can tell you that lifeguarding at a pool is not glamorous. You aren’t patrolling the beach full of happy families frolicking in the sand. Instead, there was hot concrete, weird smells, and screaming kids. But it paid well, so I stuck with it.

In addition to protecting lives (BTW, in four years of guarding, I did a total of two rescues. It ain’t like the movies), I also taught some basic swimmer classes for little kids. Most of the kids were comfortable in the water. Then, there were the kids who were scared of everything. For example, I would have the kids get in the water and hold onto the side of the pool deck. Even though we were in the shallow end of the pool, they couldn’t touch to stand up. So, it helped them feel safe as they learned. As the week of training came to a close, I would ask them to let go of the wall and swim out to me in the middle of the pool where I was standing. Most did it and celebrated the accomplishment. One child, however, screamed, cried, and would not let go. I walked over and got him to calm down a bit and asked, “What are you afraid of?” His simple reply was “drowning.” I then pulled one of the best psychological 180s known to man. I told him, “My job is to keep you safe. So, if you drown, then you can drown me back.” Boom! Logic! He was sold. A couple of seconds later, he let go and swam out.

In our journey with Jesus, we often times behave like that small child. Everything is great until God asks us to let go of the thing which we believe is giving us safety. But, it’s a lie. Holding the side of the pool only lasts as long as your grip. The One giving you safety is the Lifeguard, Jesus himself. His job is not only to protect you, but teach you how to trust Him through the tough swim ahead. As the prophet Isaiah recorded the words of God, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.”

When God asks you to let go of something, never forget that He’s still holding on to you. He is your Protector. He is your Provider. He is your Teacher. He is your Lifeguard. He will make sure that you don’t drown.