Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead … On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.

2 Corinthians 1:9 &10b

As soon as the ocean water covered my feet I could not believe the undertow. It felt like a magnet pulling and tugging at me. Not the strongest swimmer, I decided I better not venture out very far into the Pacific Ocean.

Thinking I would not go out too far and not going out too far proved two different things entirely. Before I knew it the waves crashed over my head.

The realization that I could very well drown hit me with each mighty wave. I tried to do all of the things I had heard one should do in that situation -- remain calm, not grab for anyone, tread water, swim parallel to the beach. Nothing worked.

I finally gave up the struggle and admitted to God that I could not make it. I told Him that I would drown out there without His intervention.

As I talked to Him, it seemed like time stopped for a few long seconds.

Suddenly, a peace washed over me. The fear totally left me. I did not really care about the end result which would soon follow whether life or death. I remembered the little song from childhood about the “peace which passes understanding,” but I had not experienced it so tremendously until that precise moment.

Amazingly, the next thing I knew, the waves subsided and the water went down to my knees. In spite of the undertow, I managed to trudge out of the ocean and onto the safety of the sandy beach.

God had given me a most meaningful gift, one which still gives me strength to this day, the gift of His Peace in the Pacific.

God, thank you for Your peace which certainly does pass all understanding. You are our deliverer. Amen.

Susan P.