Up a Creek without a Paddle
During my childhood, our family loved to fish and swim. We lived near a creek that was ice cold on the hottest summer day. After hours of working outside, nothing felt better than jumping into that freezing water.
- It took our breath.
- We shivered from the shock.
- Yet, what a wonderful, refreshing way to cool down.
We did most of our fishing from the banks (sides) of the creek. A few friends preferred fishing from boats. Most used motorboats, but some rowed with oars (paddles).
Circumstances sometimes left those boaters up a creek without a paddle.
The creek was narrow in most places. Therefore, they could usually reach the banks, if they dropped a paddle.
However, problems did occur:
- Wide places left them far from the banks.
- High water after a hard rain added to their danger.
- Not all those boaters could swim.
- Hardly anyone owned a life jacket.
Losing a paddle under those circumstances left boaters in trouble. They were up a creek without a paddle.
Life’s like that.
On most occasions we find solutions to our problems, but not always.
- Difficult circumstances arise that we can’t fix on our own.
- We see no way out.
We’re up a creek without a paddle.
How easily we forget that the One with the answers to all life’s hardships remains just a prayer away.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).
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