Surfing Isn’t For Me

Isaiah 43:1-3

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I grew up in Southern California, and a lot of people have asked me if I ever tried surfing. It really wasn’t my thing. I tried to go surfing one time with some friends who really enjoyed surfing, and so we went out. And of course, because they were good surfers, we had to go out on a day where the waves were really big. They loaned me a board, they loaned me a wetsuit. They thought I was going to be good. I remember trying to paddle out past those incoming waves that were so big, so scary, and you’re paddling out and you’re going up the face of a wave. And I thought I was going to make it, I didn’t. Went tumbling backwards. Crashed on my back. You get sucked under the water. You’re so completely disoriented you have no idea which way is up. Meanwhile, you’re panicking and you’re losing your air. You’re thinking, I’m about to drown. I’m going to die. And then your foot, your foot touches the bottom and you know I can jump up and you do it. It’s such a great feeling. You jump up, you take a huge gasp of air. You open your eyes. And then for me, I saw another wave. Come and do it all over again. It was terrifying. Three times in a row I got tumbled between those waves. I nearly drowned. I said, nope. This is not for me. It was a scary experience.

There’s a Bible verse that reminds me of this, Isaiah chapter 43, verses one and two. When in life we feel like we’re getting sucked down and we’re getting knocked down by one thing or the next, and maybe, maybe you’re in a season of life where you feel that all these terrible things keep coming at you. We face these things. We face these, these troubles, and it feels like we’re not going to get out. It feels like we’re about to drown and we’re about to perish at any time. Well, God has these words for us. Isaiah 43, verses one and two.

Do not be afraid, because I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name. You are mine.
When you cross through the waters, I will be with you.
When you cross the rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flame will not set you on fire.
Because I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior, (Isaiah 43:1-3)

When we feel like we’re getting sucked under the waves of life, God says, cling to me. Trust me, I’m here for you. God has made a promise to never leave us or abandon us. And he’s given us this promise. He renews this promise to us through His Word and through his sacraments. When you’re feeling down and out, return to your baptism. Remember those waters that washed over your head, those comforting waters that proclaim to you that you are God’s own child, that he loves you, that you belong to him, that he is promised to always forgive you, to be at peace with you. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by all those waves of life, and you feel those anxieties and troubles of life coming your way, come to the Lord’s altar and turn to him. Hear his invitation to come and receive Jesus.

And for us we have that wonderful blessing of coming forward to receive the body and blood of Christ Himself in the Lord’s Supper, and with that the forgiveness of all of our sins. We are right with God. We are at peace with God. Turn to his word. Turn to God in prayer. Know that he is for you, especially in these troublesome, difficult moments of life you can have confidence in God your Savior. Do not be afraid, he says, because I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.

Don’t let those waves of life bowl you over, cause you to drown. Don’t drown in the despair of this world. Know that you belong to God and have peace. The peace that comes to you through the forgiveness of sins won for you by your Savior Jesus. Peace be with you.