In a world of quicksand, how do we survive?
I’m not literally talking about sand that sucks us down and devours us, I’m talking about everyday life problems. Problems that are so overwhelming and stressful that they pull us down and make us miserable. All of us have our own kinds of “quicksand.” Problems are problems no matter how deep they sink us.
How do we get ourselves out of our quicksand predicament? Is there a secret to dealing with these problems?
A very long time ago, I read in a survival book that if you are sinking in real quicksand, the first thing you must do is to stay calm. The more you struggle, the faster you sink. It also said that if you have a backpack or anything that you can try to get on top of, then that will slow your sinking. The last thing to do in a quicksand situation is to hold out your hands above your head that way, when help comes, they can pull you out.
That is all nice and logical, but what if you were actually being swallowed up in real quicksand?
Picture yourself walking along in the desert. For some odd reason, you are by yourself. You take a step and all of the sudden, your foot starts to sink! Pulling with all your might, you try and try to get that foot unstuck, but to no avail. It keeps sinking lower and lower. Just when you think it starts to loosen, you get thrown off balance and instead of falling to your knees, you catch yourself with your other foot. Only to find that now both feet are stuck.
Panicking, you start struggling and sinking. Sinking faster now, you feel helpless. Wind stirs up the sand around you, and it stings your face. By this time, the quicksand is way past your knees and you desperately need help. Holding your arms up, you cry out, hoping against hope that you will receive it.
Do you see the anguish in this situation? Do you ever feel the panicking of every day problems?
There is a story in the bible that is very similar to our quicksand scenario.
It is found in Matthew 14:27-32.
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’
And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’
So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he became afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’
And Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
Peter walked on water! But as soon as he took is eyes off of Jesus and saw the waves that the fierce wind was making, he became afraid. He began to doubt and lose faith in Jesus, making him sink deeper and deeper into the water. Crying out for Jesus to save him was his only hope. Immediately Jesus caught him.
Walking on water and the quicksand are like our everyday walk. Not necessarily the physical act of walking, but our life journey. When we focus on Jesus even when it is hard, even when there are distractions and BIG waves, even when we are scared, He will make it possible to walk on water. But when we don’t focus on Jesus and our doubt takes over, we start to sink in our problems.
We all have felt like we are sinking before. In school, in relationships, at work, at home, on the farm, in the city, even at church. Yes, there is quicksand and boisterous wind everywhere, everyday. Don’t struggle in your problems. Instead, call out to the only One who can save you. Immediately, he will. Have faith, because God will catch you and pull you up.
There is no amount of quicksand, water, or problems that God cannot handle.
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Has God been calling you to trust him with your quicksand? When you feel like you are sinking, what do you do? What are some ways to keep our eyes on Jesus even when we are overwhelmed and busy? What is one thing God has been teaching you this June? Lets talk, comment below!
