When you’re drowning you don’t think, I would be incredibly pleased if someone would notice I’m drowning and come and rescue me. You just scream. —John Lennon
I was swimming one morning and noticed another gentleman working with a swim instructor. She was using a noodle under his arms to practice the backstroke. After a while, she took the noodle away. With the floaties gone, he flailed. Water sprayed as his arms pounded against the surface of the pool. The instructor offered him the noodle—and then took it away again. More flailing. This went on for 20 minutes.
When I left, he was in the locker room, so I decided to ask if he wanted a tip. He seemed grateful, so I continued, “Just do this one thing: hold your breath. Your lungs will become like two big floaties.”
“Thanks, man,” he said. “Maybe I will sink less.”
Does this sound like your life in Christ at all? I’ve talked with countless people who feel like their Christian life is a repetitive cycle of sinking. Most feel like they are trying so hard and yet are still drowning. Drowning beneath the rules of Christian culture. Drowning beneath a need to please God.
Many are screaming for someone to throw them a lifeline—just one thing that will keep them afloat, one thing to help them find their stroke so they can swim.
Good news, friends. Paul throws us a line—that one thing by which we can live—and I think it will help us all sink less.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)
One thing counts—just one thing. And guess what? It isn’t what you wear or don’t wear, what you watch or don’t watch, or what you own or don’t own. This one thing is all about living. If you feel like you’re drowning, take a deep breath and focus on one thing: faith expressing itself through love today.
Father, I’m grateful that You can count the number of hairs on our heads, the stars in the sky, the grains of sand on the shore. Thank You for expressing love toward me. Today, show me one person who needs that love… and by faith, express Your love through me. Amen.