Waters Rising

Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to GOD.” Suddenly the pressure was gone— my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched. Psalm 32: 5-6 (The Message)

I need a bailout. Not just an economic one, but a literal one. We have water everywhere due to all the rain we’ve had this week. I’ve been forced to pull out my bright pink rubber boots to wear when I go out to the barn to do chores. Some of the depressions where the horses roll are like little lakes now. As I was working in the pouring rain, I thought about an old joke. You may know it already, but it’s relevant to my story so here it is again. A man looked out his window saw the river near his home overflowing its banks. He knew that soon, the water would reach the interior of his house, so he climbed up on the roof. About the time the water reached his front door, a driver of a truck came by and offered him an escape. The man refused to go saying, “It’s okay. God is going to save me”. Soon, the water reached the second floor of his house. A group of men in a boat pulled up and offered to take the man to dry land. Again, he refused, “God will save me.” Finally, the water engulfed his house lapping at his feet where he sat on the roof. A helicopter flew over and sent down a basket, but the man refused to get in. “No, thanks, God will save me.” At that moment, a big wave washed over his house and the man drowned. The man went to heaven and when he met St. Peter, he said, “I don’t understand it, I was sure God was going to save me.” To which St. Peter replied, “Well, what more did you want? He sent a fire truck, a boat and a helicopter!” There are many times when I pound on the gates of Heaven demanding a miracle that has already been granted and is right there in front of me if only I will take my eyes off what I think should happen and look at the real answers to my problems. No matter what our government might be saying, a new car, refinancing your mortgage, a better job, tax credits, even more money in your pocket are only temporary fixes. You can change your clothes, your hair color, your address, or your spouse, but there is only one real remedy to the mess in which you find yourself. God. I used to think that there was a limit to His willingness to forgive. Three strikes at the same failure, and I was out. Until I learned the truth. He is the God of mercy and grace. Grace means even when I don’t deserve it, He loves me and cares for me still. If the floodwaters aren’t rising at your house, they will be one day. Who will you turn to for help? Open your eyes and look. He’s right there willing to save you. All you have to do is say yes to the bailout.