That doesn’t look survivable, I thought, glancing at the waves that roared up from the river like a horde of frothy, rock-fanged sea monsters directly ahead of our raft.
But it was too late for second-guessing. The time for that had passed when I’d signed up to try white water rafting. Only later did I learn this river had set the scene for white water events in the 1996 Olympics. And I’m definitely no Olympian.
Optimism would have been unreasonable, if not for one fact: I wouldn’t be shooting these rapids alone. So I tightened my grip on the paddle, braced one foot beneath the inner edge of the raft to (hopefully) keep from falling out, and listened for the voice of the guide. At his signal to paddle forward, we plunged into the seething waves.
Those rapids did more than drench our crew. They also offered four encouraging reminders for every Christian navigating the troubled waters of life in a fallen world.
1. Our guide is in the same boat with us.
The danger, grief, and pain of “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) are as real as tangible boulders and waves. Check out the trials, grievances, and persecutions that Hebrews 11:35–38 records believers facing, and you’ll find the writer is realistic about the horrors of a sin-cursed world.
Yet in Hebrews 13:5–6, the same writer calls us to courageous contentment, since “He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’” Amid the turmoil, we can be “perplexed, but not despairing” (2 Corinthians 4:8), knowing that Jesus is with us to the end (Matthew 28:20).
2. He knows everything about the way ahead.
Facing rapids with a guide who has no idea what he’s doing would be cause for concern. But while rafting, we passengers could trust the guide because he knew every boulder of the river. As we approached each one, he directed us exactly how, where, and when to paddle around the danger. We had the responsibility to follow his instructions, while he remained in control of steering the boat in the manner he knew would be best.
How much more can we as Christians trust the sovereign direction of our all-knowing guide! There is no scenario we can imagine, dream, or suggest that God hasn’t already thought through. He knows what is best. And being all-powerful and all-loving, He has both the means and motive to accomplish those best purposes, regardless of human sins, schemes, or circumstances.
3. He is worthy of our trust, even when nothing makes sense.
Soon after my friends and I had first entered the raft, the guide directed us to paddle toward a stationary wave gushing over a rock. “We are going to let water pour into the boat on purpose,” he announced.
At first, these instructions didn’t make sense. They only seemed to make us soaked! But the guide knew what he was doing. That initial confrontation with the river would help prepare us for what lay ahead.
Similarly, God calls His people to trust Him even when His instructions (or human circumstances) may not seem to make sense. Just ask Noah, Abraham, Joshua, Job, and many other heroes of the faith. Like them, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), knowing that our guide is worthy of every confidence.
4. He has already challenged these waters—and won.
One reason why I knew our rafting guide to be worthy of confidence was that he had navigated these rapids before. This reality didn’t make the waves any smaller. But it did reassure me that I’d be facing them with someone who had already encountered and defeated them.
In the same way, God’s Word assures us that although we will certainly go through suffering, Jesus has already encountered and defeated such suffering. He walked this earth, experiencing temptation, hunger, grief, betrayal, abandonment, captivity, mockery, torture, and death. He conquered the greatest heights of pain and depths of shame possible, bearing the full cost of our sin on the cross. He rose from the grave, proving He defeated death and offering life to all who humbly place their faith and hope in Him.
He will one day create a new heaven and earth free of suffering (Revelation 21:1–4). Until then, we have His Spirit, presence, and promises—including the guarantee, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Summing Up
Having overcome the Olympic rapids after a heart-pounding, foam-flying paddle battle with the monster waves, our guide nosed our raft onto the rocky shore for a break. I knew more rapids lay ahead. But I also knew four truths, which apply even more fittingly to life as Christians in a fallen world.
When the waters grow rougher than we imagined, these truths remain: (1) our Guide is in the same boat with us, (2) He knows everything about the way ahead, (3) He is worthy of our trust, and (4) He has already defeated these waves. Even death is now survivable because Jesus is the victor.
