As a parent and a pastor, I am always trying to find ways to keep my eyes open for times when God is calling me to learn and pass on His truths. Even if I wasn't on the lookout, there are times when God makes it so easy for me to see that He is there and my need for Him is evident. It’s almost as if His presence is drawing me in like a magnet in order to get my attention, then opening my eyes to the fact that there are always new things to learn about him. These times usually leave me in awe of His grandeur and wanting to tell the first people I see about this new revelation.

When I was in college, I traveled in a band that played worship at large youth camps throughout the summer. One of the camps we played at was located in the mountains of West Virginia. It was a great week, but what made it even better was being invited to go white water rafting on the New River through the New River Gorge.

As a band of guys in our twenties, we were always up for an adventure - so of course, we jumped at the chance. Once on the river, we experienced Class III and even a few Class IV rapids. Each time we hit a giant rapid of churning water, it made my heart race with excitement.

Halfway through the trip, we pulled over for lunch and cliff jumping on some small ledges over the water. Our guide pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to experience something that I would never forget. I thought rafting was thrilling enough, but of course, I said yes. He told me that when we got to a certain spot in the moving river, he wanted me to jump out of the boat. He reminded me that I had a life vest on, and he wouldn’t have me do anything “too” dangerous.

About 30 minutes downriver he turned around and told me now was the time to jump out. It was a very rapidly moving section of the river, but I didn’t hesitate. I jumped out of the boat and took a few minutes to get my bearings with all of the water splashing me in the face. When I was able to see, I looked up and saw that I was headed for a giant 25-foot boulder right in the middle of the river. I looked back at our guide as I tread water as best I could. He looked at me and yelled, “Trust me!”.

I turned back and started getting closer and closer to the boulder. Moving at a fast rate, it was as if the closer I got to the giant rock, the more it pulled me in. By the time I was within 30 yards of it, I was flying. I was headed for a direct collision with it. I quickly realized I was about to be hurled into this hunk of granite and I screamed like a little girl that had just found a spider.

Then something crazy happened. When I finally got about 10 feet away, the current whisked me like a rag doll directly around the rock! I was safe. (I later learned that this is a fun trick the locals play on out of towners to scare them to death but know there is no harm.)

Sometimes, I feel like God is telling me to trust him. But, as I get closer and closer to being hurled into a huge mess that will bring much pain, He whisks me to safety and lets me know He was in control the whole time. Isaiah 12:2 says

How have you seen God telling you to trust Him lately, and how has the outcome spurred you to share the truths of His goodness to your family and others? Take some time to thank God for pulling you to safety, even when it feels like you are about to smack into a giant boulder of hurt.