Swim to the Side: A Journey of Faith and Resilience

Kure Beach, North Carolina 2020

In July of 2020, my family and I gathered to celebrate the 4th of July at Kure Beach in North Carolina. The day was radiant! The sun gleamed upon the refreshingly cool ocean water, while pelicans and seagulls soared above us, chattering and occasionally swooping down to catch a mid-morning snack. We played in the water for hours, laughter mingling with the gentle sound of waves. The tide was out, and the water appeared deceptively low. As we drifted toward a sandbar near the newly renovated, 700-foot pier, the waves were mildly active, inviting us to explore.

Suddenly, the waves began to rise higher and come more quickly. The tide rolled in without warning, violently separating me from my husband and children. Panic surged through me as I realized I could no longer touch the bottom. The waves, relentless and tumultuous, seemed determined to pull me under rather than push me to shore. I began to tire quickly, my breaths growing shallow as I struggled to keep my head above water long enough to inhale deeply. I was neither moving forward nor backward.

People often say that if you find yourself in such a situation, you should roll onto your back and float. I tried this, but the sheer terror of being swept under the waves kept me trapped in a whirlpool of water that would not let me go. The strength of the current fought against my every effort to survive. I kept thinking, I'm not strong enough. I wanted to scream for help, but I hesitated, fearing I would embarrass my family by causing a ruckus. Instead, I called out to my husband, "Steven, I need your help!" My voice was barely audible over the thunderous waves, and I wasn't sure he could hear me in time. In desperation, I prayed:

"Dear God, please. Help!"

Realizing I was in real trouble, my husband swam to my rescue, only to find himself caught in the same predicament as the water crept higher than his six-foot stature. With a voice much stronger than mine, he yelled to a nearby swimmer to call for a lifeguard. That beautiful, precious woman looked into my eyes and calmly said, "Swim to the side. You are in a rip current, and you must swim out of it. Just swim toward me." In an instant, the nightmare was over as quickly as it had begun. I could stand up on my own. I could breathe full, deep breaths. I was safe!

When I fell into my beach chair moments later, tears streamed down my face. I felt the weight of another wave overtaking me. Emotions welled up inside and poured out onto my cheeks. I could not speak except to thank my Jesus for His protection and sovereign will over me, my husband, and my precious kids, who could have become orphaned that day on a beach in North Carolina.

Reflections on Resilience

Over the next few hours and days, our family recounted the details, shared our fears, and expressed our eternal gratitude. We embraced tightly and talked about how we had overcome together as a family once again. Lord knows we have faced some rough waters together in our few short years. And yes, I believe we all drew closer to Jesus on this road trip!

James 4:14 AMP:

Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].

When we experience events like this, there is a tendency to reflect on our frailty as humans. Scripture reminds us that our lives are but a vapor. Experiences often come to teach us, not to take us out. At the shallow end, one might think the lesson would be a review of swimming safety rules or a reminder to watch the lifeguard flags. However, this traumatic experience offered a lesson in something deeper, something thought-provoking, something life-changing. I left the beach that day, thanking God that His strength was made perfect in my weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV:

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

More importantly, I realized that not every battle we face, no matter how strong we think we are, can be won. People usually do not change without some divine intervention. Amen? Some situations will never change. So, the purpose of the battle may not be to gain a victory but rather to change our way of thinking, to redirect us, to alter our course entirely.

The Current of Life

At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves caught in a strong current, with breaking waves crashing around us. Perhaps it is turmoil at work, a personal struggle that feels insurmountable, or a relationship that is chaotic or suffocating. Whatever the current may be, the struggle exhausts us, leaving us treading water in a vicious cycle of riding the wave only to be pulled back under before we can take another breath. Our cries for help drown in the noise, and we feel utterly alone, living in tremendous anxiety, unable to see the shoreline, much less reach it.

Swim to the side, Friend.

South Port, North Carolina

As I stated earlier, you will only gain fresh perspective by extracting yourself completely from a tumultuous situation. Just like in a riptide, you will not catch your breath and secure your footing until you swim entirely out of it. Change course. Then, reevaluate. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to cry out for help. Jesus calmed the storm and walked on the water. He is with you, and He is for you!

Then one day, you will find an opportunity to be that calm voice of reason for a friend, family member, or even a stranger who needs to know they too can swim to the side.

Psalm 89:9 ESV:

"You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them."

In the end, life is a journey filled with waves of challenges and moments of clarity. Embrace the lessons learned in the depths of struggle. They may just lead you to a shore of newfound strength and faith.

Adaptation of https://brittni-thejourney.blogspot.com/2020/07/swim-to-side.html