APRIL 7
Psalm 69:1-2, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck…I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.”
If you haven’t read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, I highly recommend it. The book tells the remarkable true story of Louie Zamperini, a former Olympic runner who endured a series of harrowing trials. After competing in the 1936 Olympics, Louie enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Serving as a bombardier, his B-24 plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. As the plane sank, Louie found himself tangled in wires, trapped in the wreckage. In a desperate bid for survival, he managed to break free and reached the surface of the water.
Louie and his crewmates survived for days at sea in a small rubber raft, enduring brutal conditions. But their ordeal didn’t end with their struggle for survival. Eventually, they were rescued—not by the Americans, but the Japanese, who took them as prisoners of war. Louie spent months enduring horrific mistreatment and abuse in Japanese prison camps until the Allies finally liberated him.
After his release, Louie faced another kind of “deep water” experience: consumed by anger and bitterness over his abuse, he fell into alcoholism. It was at his lowest point—when he felt truly “in over his head”—that Louie turned to Jesus and experienced God’s salvation. His conversion marked the beginning of a profound transformation.
Louie lived a long and fulfilling life of Christian ministry after his spiritual awakening. His story is a powerful testament to the redemptive power of God and the capacity for healing and forgiveness, even in the face of unimaginable suffering.
Like David in the Bible and Louie, we all encounter times when we find ourselves in deep waters. In those moments, it’s important to remember that God’s ability to save and intervene transcends our ability to comprehend. We can always trust Him in His ability to lift us up and set our feet back on solid ground.
“When I walk through deep waters, I know that you will be with me.”— Kari Jobe
Application Questions: With his eyes fixed on Jesus, Peter could walk on water, but when he looked at the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, “Lord save me,” and Jesus reached out his hand and rescued him (Matthew 14:29-31). How can you apply Peter’s experience to your own life?
LookingtoJesus 