Bouyed By Jesus

by Jenni Wyatt

 My childhood home in Florida was close to a lake. My mother, a water-safety instructor, taught me to swim when I was three-years old. Hot, humid days were spent in the neighborhood pool or on the lake. We were excellent swimmers, on the swim team and could swim better than most of our friends. My younger sister, Martha, even qualified for the junior Olympics.  

My mother knew our abilities, and yet, she insisted that we wear flotation devices when we swam without adult supervision in the lake or the ocean. Oh, how I resented this! I would try in vain to swim under water but the life jacket or life belt would immediately buoy me up to the surface. No matter my efforts to the contrary, my head would always pop back out of the water.  

As an adult, I see the wisdom in my mom’s protective precautions. She knew we were good swimmers, but she also knew the dangers that we could not see at the time…the rip currents, the possibility of hitting our head on an object in rambunctious childish antics, or one of us succumbing to an unexpected cramp or fatigue.  

Our God is a wise and loving Father. He knows we need His protection and provision. He knows we need His encouragement, power, and strength to overcome life’s challenges. So, God gives us Himself as our Shield. He lifts our heads that our bowed with despair or fatigue as He buoys us with hope. We are unsinkable!  

In His grace, He also gives us “buoy” friends. Friends who speak words of life when life is closing in on us. Friends who faithfully pray us through a season of pain and challenge. Friends who are friends “in deed” and in heart.  

But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me 

and lift up my head! Psalms 3:3