Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Up a Creek
I have many fond memories of canoeing in Southwest Missouri during the first six years of our marriage. Jimmy and I would spend time alone or with friends/family floating the various rivers in the “Show-Me” State. These float-trip experiences varied, depending on how much rain the area had recently received. Jimmy would sit in the back of the canoe and I would be in the front. It took teamwork to navigate through the big rocks with the water gushing around them. From the back, my husband would scrutinize the situation ahead and say, “Go right,” etc. Although I couldn’t see him, I knew he was back there giving proper directions and doing his part to get us through safely.
As a country girl, I drank water from the hose, licked the new part of a salt block, ran barefooted on gravel, ate pickled pig’s feet, and drank cold well water from Aunt Pauline’s community dipper. I’d say I had a pretty strong constitution. Part of canoeing involves eating snacks along the way and my favorite was Vienna sausages (where I come from it’s pronounced VI-eenie). Once, with friends Leon and Linda floating behind us, I pulled out my can, opened it and, one by one, I would hold the tasty treat down in the river to rinse off the gelatin before I ate it. Leon was completely flabbergasted and, with eyes the size of saucers, said, “Don’t you know there’s cattle upstream?!”
There are times when believers feel like we’re up a creek without a paddle. But that’s never true. We’re to live by faith, not by our fickle feelings. We can’t trust feelings because they’re up one day and down the next — but we can always trust God and choose to hope. “God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV). God’s not fickle. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever – so that means He’s always with us, even when the lying devil tempts us to think we’re all alone.
Sometimes, when there’s a storm brewing and headed our way, we may feel like we’re up a creek without a paddle. But that’s when we simply hold on and trust Jesus to put His hands over ours as we keep paddling along. We can’t see Him but we know He’s doing His part. When we give Him the right of way, Jesus will get us safely through the storm. No one is going to capsize, lose everything, and drown on His watch. No sir!
“Have no fear, for I am with you; do not be looking about in trouble, for I am your God; I will give you strength, yes, I will be your helper; yes, my true right hand will be your support” (Isaiah 41:10 BBE). So, when you’re in trouble, don’t throw away your paddle! Once on a float trip with our church group, one of the guys got so angry (because he and his wife had to pick up their canoe and carry it a lot) he threw his paddle onto the rocks! It was kinda’ like when Moses smashed the first set of Ten Commandments. We have to give God something to work with – don’t throw in the paddle – don’t give up!
Canoeing is comparable to our journey of life. Some parts of the river are smooth and relaxing and some are rough and nerve-racking. No matter the circumstances, Jesus is with us. “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). Jesus will be with His followers to the end of “their” age and then throughout all eternity. Although I’ve got rhythm, I never learned to dance or do cartwheels, but this red-letter scripture promise makes me want to do both!
The Key: Believers need to keep their chin up and keep paddling. It’ll be worth it.