Do You Feel Like Your Drowning?

Photo & Story by: Lisa Petrarca

Do you ever find yourself paddling along through life, everything seems to be going nicely, no problems or troubles and then...WHAM...all of a sudden a huge wave comes crashing down on you? It pushes you under, you begin to flip, spin and roll to the bottom. You become disoriented unable to figure out which way to swim. All of a sudden you look for the light. You instinctively know that is the way to safety and the air you so desperately need. 

Frantically you paddle, relief sweeping over you as the light becomes brighter and you release the last bit of air left in your lungs. You know that once you reach the surface, you'll be filled up with new, clean air and safe once again.

Our everyday lives can often feel like we're being hit by a wave and forced under. Do you sometimes find yourself gasping for air as you try to overcome stress, worry, grief, heartache and disappointment?

You need to remember to "swim" toward the light. Don't continue to get tossed, hit, and held down by your troubles. Seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, "the Light." Let Him renew you with His life giving Spirit. Allow yourself to be brought into the safety of His embrace. Allow Him to carry you safely to the shore. He can fill you with a peace beyond your circumstances and give you renewed hope. Ask for help today. If you feel as though you're drowning...PRAY. Tell the Lord what you're feeling and ask for help to get through it. Allow Him into your everyday life. He is only a prayer away. Call out to your Savior...He will help you overcome it. Run towards His Light and allow Jesus Christ to fill your emptiness.  Find everything you've been searching for in Him.

"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." Psalm 89:9

^{~JESUS CALMS THE WAVES~ 
"}And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:35-41

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Blessings in Your Day

It was a normal Monday morning after Easter. I rushed out the door for work and while driving along Pacific Coast Highway, I felt a tinge of envy. Everyone was out jogging, riding their bikes, walking in wetsuits, board in hand heading out for a surf session. Several women where pushing their babies in strollers...it was a perfect spring day in Orange County, CA; which usually means...beach day.

I crossed over the ocean bridge, gazing out...glistening white sails speckling the bay. It was too nice of a day to be in an office for eight hours. I quickly pushed aside the negative thoughts and remembered to give thanks to the Lord for my job and living in a beautiful city. I may not be able to do everything I'd like to all the time, but I can remember to remain thankful for the blessings I've received from the Lord each day. I've been working on this a lot; removing envy/negativity and replacing it with thankfulness. The Lord has blessed my life in ways that I never expected or deserve.

Once at work I settled at my desk, prepared to spend the next eight hours doing my job. After an hour, one of my bosses said his brother was sick and wouldn't be in, (I do most of the work for him.) He told me I could go home since there wasn't anything for me to do.

My first though was, "I'm going to the beach...YES!"

As I sat in front of the crashing waves, seals playing in the water, pelicans dive bombing into the ocean for food and swarms of small birds flying in front of me at the oceans edge; I'm once again giving thanks for the unexpected changes in my day.

Remember to thank the Lord each day for blessings, both big and small. He is watching over you and blesses you for your gratitude to Him.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts wit praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4

"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Luke 24:36

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5

"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8