The Ledger

By Jennifer Greene-Sullivan 

Years ago, when Sophia was in eighth grade and Bailey was in sixth, our family spent part of the summer visiting Chris’s dad and stepmom in Chattanooga.

We always stayed at a campground on Lake Chickamauga, and that year we brought both jet skis so the kids could ride. One afternoon, I stood with Chris and little Liam on an empty campsite overlooking the lake while Sophia and Bailey rode the gray jet ski far out on the water.

From where we stood, everything looked fine. A large boat passed the girls, and although we could see its wake rolling toward them, nothing seemed particularly dangerous. Then the wake hit the jet ski, flipping it and throwing both girls into the lake.

Something had gone wrong with Sophia’s wrist key fob, and it had not properly disengaged when she fell. The jet ski was upside down and still running, Sophia was tangled with it, and neither girl was strong enough to turn it over. From the shore, we could see that our daughters were in trouble.

Chris did not hesitate.

He threw his wallet, phone, and shoes onto the ground and dove into the lake. Liam and I watched from the shore as he swam toward our girls as quickly as he could. They were frightened and struggling in the middle of the lake, but there was something they may not have been able to see from where they were.

Their father was already coming.

When Chris reached them, he flipped the jet ski upright and freed Sophia. Both girls swam safely back to shore while he stayed behind trying to get the jet ski running again. Later, when our vacation was over, Chris sold both jet skis. As far as he was concerned, if one could flip once and endanger our children, it could happen again.

This morning, many years later, I was driving to school when the Lord brought that afternoon back to my mind. Suddenly, I could see something in the memory I had never noticed before.

The girls never had to convince their father to come for them.

Chris saw his children in trouble, dropped everything that might slow him down, and went into the water. Before they could explain what had happened or figure out how to rescue themselves, their father was already on his way.

How often do we find ourselves in deep water believing God must somehow be persuaded to help us? We struggle, pray, and sometimes panic because all we can see is the turbulent water around us. Yet, Psalm 18:16 says, “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.”

Our Father sees us.

That does not mean He will always remove every difficult circumstance as quickly as we want Him to. Sometimes His rescue comes as strength to endure, provision we did not expect, another person arriving at exactly the right moment, or His unmistakable presence with us in the water. We never have to wonder whether He sees His children or whether He loves us enough to come near.

Maybe today you are treading water. Maybe you are exhausted from trying to keep your head above circumstances you cannot control, and you cannot see anything beyond the waves surrounding you.

Hold on, beloved.

Your Father sees you. Your Father loves you. And your Father is already moving toward you.

Help is on the way.

Sometimes, torn wings still fly because our Father meets us in the water.