Drawn From The Deep: The Lifeboat Of Grace

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. Psalm 18:16

Life, in all its unpredictable tides, often feels like a vast ocean—sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, sometimes so overwhelming that we fear we’ll drown. In those moments, when the waves of grief, confusion, or transition crash over us, it’s easy to forget that we are not alone in the water.

Psalm 18:16 reminds us that God doesn’t just watch from the shore. He sends from above, He takes hold, and He draws us out. He is the lifeboat when we feel submerged. He is the hand that reaches into the chaos and pulls us into safe harbor.

Christianity is not a promise of smooth sailing—it’s a promise of Presence. God walks with us through the light, the dark, and the in-betweens. He is there in the radiant joy of answered prayers and in the silent ache of waiting. He is there when we feel surrounded by love, and when we feel abandoned or misunderstood. He is always there – through every storm. Waiting to bring you safely to “shore” where He will bring you to “solid land” even on “sand – He is our Rock.”

We live in a temporary abode—this world is not our final home. The people who come and go, the seasons that shift, the homes we build and leave behind—they’re all part of a greater journey. Some relationships last a lifetime, others just a moment. Some seasons stretch long and quiet, others flash by in intensity. But through it all, God remains.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14

Even in our earthly dwelling, we are pilgrims. We are learning to trust, to release, to love, and to let go. The temporary nature of life doesn’t diminish its beauty—it magnifies it. Every sunrise, every kind word, every quiet moment with my loved ones is a gift. And every storm is a reminder that we have a Savior who walks on water.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. Isaiah 43:2

Reflective Questions

• What “waters” have you felt overwhelmed by recently?
• Can you recall a time when God pulled you out of a situation you thought would sink you?
• Who are the people God has placed in your life for a season—and what did they teach you?
• How can you embrace the temporary nature of life while anchoring yourself in eternal hope?
• What does “safe harbor” look like for you right now?

 “LORD- thank You for being the Lifeboat when I feel adrift. Thank You for always sending help from above, for drawing me out of many waters, and for never letting me sink beneath the waves. In every season—light and dark, long and short—You have been faithful. You have walked with me through various circumstances, and given me people and friends who temporarily came into and out of my life, ostensibly, you’ve given me long time relationships,  and guided all my paths. You have shown me that even when the world feels unstable, Your love is steady. Thank You for my family’s comfort and love, for so many memorable relationships and colleagues, and the quiet moments that remind me of Your grace. Help me to always trust You deeply, to release what I cannot control, and to rest in the truth that You are always near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”