When the Floodwater Comes

Several years ago, I had a dream that my mom and I were driving on a county road that runs alongside a nearby creek. We were in our Suburban, enjoying the scenery. Suddenly, out of nowhere, floodwaters began to rise all around us. It was rising quickly! There was nowhere to go. Panic had taken control of our emotions!

As I saw the floodwaters rapidly rising to the top of the window, thoughts of “Oh, my God! We’re going to die!” raced through my head while trying to gasp for breath. Fear had filled me to the point of almost blacking out. Then came this overwhelming peace and assurance that we would survive. Immediately, the thought came to me, “Don’t panic. Pray!” So, we started praying for the waters to recede in the Name of Jesus. At once, the floodwaters went down and we continued on our journey.

Listen to what God has to say in Isaiah 41:10:

“Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." (MSG)

In life, there are times when you are going along without a care in the world and nothing to weigh you down. Then, without warning, you hit a great impossibility according to the human eye. Like my dream, I looked out and was terrified at what I saw. The problem magnified because I viewed the water surrounding us through my own human understanding. If I had only looked through the eyes of faith and not fear, the problem would have seemed less threatening.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7,

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (NKJV)

Being children of God, that same spirit dwells within us all. This is the spirit that arose in me as I was sinking under the pressure of uncertainty. The Holy Spirit assured me of the outcome, which shot my confidence level up to expect a divine intervention from the Lord. The only action that was required from me was to call upon the Name of Jesus in faith.

Maybe you are facing adversity in a physical, emotional, or financial area of your life. Don’t Panic. Pray, even though it looks as if there is no way out. Don’t lose heart because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) and greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Listen to the truth spoken through the Holy Spirit, not the lies spoken through the enemy. The Lord is all-powerful and well able to deliver you.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." (Isaiah 43:2a NKJV)

Keep this in mind when the floodwater comes.

Copyright © Byron Bohnert, used with permission.