Water

Water                                                      May 18, 2025

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of many waters.” (Psalms 18:16)

Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth.  It sustains life, cleanses, and shapes the world.  But it can also bring destruction – storms rage, floods rise, and oceans swallow ships whole.

Scripture often uses water as a symbol of both danger and deliverance.  When the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, God parted the waters to save them.  When Jonah ran from God, he was swallowed by the depths until repentance brought him back to dry land.  When Peter walked on water toward Jesus, doubt nearly drowned him – until Christ reached out His hand.

Have we ever felt like we were drowning in life?  Fear, shame, and regret can rise so high that we struggle to stay afloat.  But Psalms 18:16 reminds us that God is not distant from our struggles.  He reaches into our deepest waters, pulls us up, and sets our feet on solid ground.

Water is also a symbol of renewal.  Through baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised into new life.  The very element that can destroy also brings salvation.  When Noah and his family were saved from a world of sin, they passed through water into a new beginning.

Who is praying for us?  Perhaps our parents have whispered our names before God since we were born.  Maybe a friend or someone we don’t know has lifted us up in prayer.  These prayers are spiritual lifelines, unseen currents that carry us toward the shore.

If we feel overwhelmed today, remember this: the same God who pulled Peter from the sea, who split the Red Sea, and who washes us clean in baptism, is reaching for us now.  His hands are strong.  His mercy is deep.  His love will not fail.

By Robert Kargbo, Middleton, WI