They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.
Nehemiah 9:17 NIV
“Ready, set, THROW!”
A white life preserver sailed next to my shoulder. It was part of the drill. My partner, another lifeguard in training, had impeccably thrown the foam-filled ring within arms reach. It was my job to grab it, and be pulled from the water to safety.
After spending over ten years as a lifeguard, I was used to this drill. It wasn’t hard, but it was one we practiced with each pool inservice. As swimming instructors, we even taught it to our youngest students. “If someone throws you a life preserver, grab it and they’ll pull back to shore.”
Common sense. Something we know how to do. And yet sometimes when it comes to our mental health we purposefully turn our back on the life ring, and continue to drown.
Similar to the Israelites that Nehemiah refers to in this passage, we stiffen our necks, push God away, return to our slavery, and make idols out of things in our lives that should never be above the Lord. We turn our backs on the life preserver that our gracious Heavenly Father offers us.
Why do we do that? We think we can handle it. Control it. Avoid it. Manipulate it. Power through it.
But the truth is — we can’t. We need the life ring that is brushing up against our shoulder, offering us a break from the tumultuous storm we’ve been trapped in. We need that ever faithful Father watching from the shore shouting, “grab the life ring!”
Again and again he throws it out, and reels it in. Throws it out. Reels it in. Hoping that this might be the time that our arms would extend towards it and grab on to His love, forgiveness and peace.
Friend, it’s time to grab the life ring. If you’re swimming in the storm of depression, anger, bitterness, anxiety, fear or emotional instability — this is your sign to surrender your pride and grab the life ring.
Hit your knees, pray the prayer that you’ve been too ashamed to pray and honestly talk to God about where you’re struggling. He already has the life ring perfectly placed next to you — He’s just waiting for you to grab it.
Reflection Questions:
In what area of your life do you need to grab the life preserver that Christ is offering you?
If the area that you need rescuing is mental health related, please reach out to someone who can help. A pastor, a Christian therapist, a friend and most importantly, your Heavenly Father. Don’t fight the storm alone.
You can read more posts like this one here:
“He Redeems My Life From the Pit.”
“Drops of Water on your Face.”
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