Rip Currents

I’m sure everyone knows what a rip current is, but if you don't, it is a specific type of water current that can occur near beaches where waves break. A rip is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water that moves directly away from the shore, cutting through the lines of breaking waves, like a river flowing out to sea. The force of the current in a rip is strongest and fastest next to the surface of the water.

When we think of rip currents, our mind automatically goes to the ocean. They have signs everywhere telling you how to get out of them if caught in one. One way is to swim parallel to the shore, and the other is to lie on your back and float. You are never to try and fight the current or it will exhaust you, and pull you further out. But what if we thought about the spiritual currents that are trying to pull us away from the shore?

I have often thought about how I would react if caught in one. Would I panic and fight, or would I remember and use the knowledge given to me, in order to get safely out?

And I think about the rip currents that might be trying to drag us out in our spiritual lives. Are we going to panic and try to get out on our own, or are we going to use the knowledge given to us by our Word, to get out safely?

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. - 2 Peter 1:5-8
 
Our Word is the tool we need to get us out of these. Our first reaction in our fleshly mind is going to be to panic, but we have to rely on the scriptures to be our lifeguard.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10

Rip currents are hard to spot. You have to be aware and know what you are looking for. Rip currents are also hard to get out of. If you fight you can drown. If you don’t have the knowledge of them, you are not going to know how to safely get out of them. If you allow the current to take you, more than likely you can get out of it. If you fight against it, that's when the trouble comes.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

We have to trust that the Lord is going to get us out of this current, but we have to be willing to let ourselves go, and rest in the Father. We cannot get out of these by fighting on our own.

Allow the rip current in your life to take you out, not by fighting, but by floating. Eventually, it will take you out to deeper waters, but you must be aware. If you are blinded by distractions, you will get caught in one and how you handle it determines your outcome.

If we allow the Lord to carry us during those times where it feels like the waves in the current are drowning us, he will not only pull us out, but lead us into deeper water. But we have to allow ourselves to stop fighting and breathe.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” - Exodus 14:14

Are there any currents in your life that are causing you to panic and feel like you are drowning? Think about those moments where you feel like you are out of control. Where the waves might not be overwhelming you, but slowly pulling you away. Those moments, those riptides, are the dangerous ones. You can’t spot them from the shore, unless you know where to look. Many people overlook them, or simply ignore them, even when the red flags are waving.

Just like a riptide in the ocean, we can either allow those things to drown us, or we can trust that the Lord will pull us out.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” - Psalms 46:1

Don’t let a joyful day at the beach turn into a day of trouble. Keep your focus on the Lord and remember the knowledge given to us by His Word if you get caught in a rip current. Before you know it, you will be back on the beach again, with a testimony of faith to share.