Wow... I definitly learned this lesson on my trip to the Keys this past weekend... Let me say this...this was a man's trip! No shaving, few showers, diving and fishing all day! It was a blast! The water was clear, we were diving for lobster, spearfishing and all! Sounds pretty sweet huh? We were one of the only campers with tents...most everyone else had big RV's and all...we just had a fan in the tent. One night we got rained on but It was so tired I just fell back asleep...to say the least it was an amazing trip. Convinced yet?
Well...we were snorkeling down near the "spanish harbor" spot and drifting with the current out where no other boats had tried...well...we found a great spot! It was filled with lobster and fish...I went down with my friend's dad and we found a big metal container (it looked 100 years old) and saw two lobsters in it...now you have to understand that there are two things involved in getting lobsters. A "tickle" stick and a net. Usually one person tickles it out and the other nets it and measures it. Well, we found a big one! I remember thinking, "I will not miss this lobster, I will not let David down! As we waited to get it out, David shoots inside of it with a speargun at an Eel that had been keeping the lobster in there...wow, so all of a sudden the lobster jumps out and as I moved the net, it got caught! I ripped it off of the metal cylinder and as I did, my right finger got caught on the side of it and I ripped it really good! I saw blood come out..gross!! I got it stitched up at a small, scary hospital that night...that was an experience as well...
So why am I talking about God's protection you might say?!? Well...the next day on the way back home our trailer blew out! We got of the interstate and it happened as we stopped...the other tire blew out. Both tires blew out on us! We spent 2 hours fixing it! An hour later another tire blows out while on I-75...then our spare had a leak as we are fixing the blown tire!! WHAT?!?!
As we sat there laughing uncontrollably it reminded me of how God allows some things to happen in life and we wonder, "WHY?!"
Well we talked about how it is NOT what happens to us in this Christian life, but how we RESPOND to it...God protected us the whole trip! It could have been a lot worse. Check this verse out:
Ps 91:2 I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.
God is deliverer! Not only when He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross, but all the time! I learned this lesson...
Trusting God must be a lifestyle that I'm slowly learning...i'm a work in progress. The issues and struggles that we face in life are always there...it is just how we respond to them!
Psalm 34:15 says, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help."
God is our refuge...all the time! Keep growing closer to God, He is waiting to encourage you and strengthen in your life!
Keep praising Jesus!
P.S. If you want to see my "GNARLY" looking stitches...let me know!!