My wife is better to me than I could ever deserve and I am most grateful to her for it.  Once in a while, though, I try to return the favor by surprising her with something special; last Friday was one of those times. 

I was already at home when she got home from work and shortly after she walked into the house I told her that we were going to the beach for the week end.  She had no clue that I had already made our reservations; her joy was immediately evident.

When we arrived at our destination everything was wonderful—our room was ready, the weather was beautiful, and somehow we managed to leave town without any little heads in the back seat.  It was our week end to enjoy, although we did not know that it would contain some anxious moments.

While we sat by the seaside on Saturday it was a near perfect day.  The surf was rough, but that did not matter since we rarely wade into the water anyway.  There was a wedding taking place just below where we were sitting and Gale was enjoying seeing what was going on. 

But the peace and enjoyment of the moment was interrupted when we heard something that strikes fear into the hearts of parents and grandparents:  the cry for help coming from a child in the water.  The tone made it apparent right away that it was a real crisis and not just kids’ play.

As we left our comfortable seats and hurriedly started down the shore in their direction it was a frightening sight to see two boys—the youngest appeared to be about six years old and the other one just slightly older—struggling with the powerful surf and swift current.  Thankfully someone was able to reach them in time and everything turned out well—although it took us awhile to get over being shaken so badly. 

After I had time to think about what had taken place and enjoy the relief that everyone was safely back on dry ground, a couple of thoughts came to mind that were not only important to those two young guys but are of tremendous importance to us on the journey of life.  One is that they were smart enough to cry for help when they needed it.  Secondly, there was willing and effective help nearby. 

Had they not cried out for help they could easily have been swallowed up by the angry waves without any of us being aware of what was happening until after it was too late. 

Life is filled with a lot of rough waters that have the ability to overpower us if we try to face them in our own strength.  When pride keeps us from crying out for help we find ourselves separated from the help that is available. 

God desires to hear and answer His children when we call out for His intervention in our circumstances.  Psalm 40:1-2 conveys very well the importance of crying out to God in times of need:  “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, and out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand”  (New International Version). 

Are you in trouble?  Cry out to God for help and let Him rescue you from whatever is trying to overtake you.