Gondola Jesus
We were tubing down a rough, ramshackle river cluttered with downed trees and sharp rocks jutting up from the rapids. I’ve had enough negative experiences on rivers, whether tubing or kayaking, to feel a rise of panic at the sound of rapids, much less rapids covered in tree branches. Fortunately, the waterway I saw was only in my imagination.
I was worshipping when the image of this treacherous river appeared. As I uneasily navigated its chaos with my husband and daughter, a small tributary appeared to the right. This tributary was calm and crystal clear. As soon as I noticed it in the dream, we transitioned from drifting in tubes on the rough waters to cruising in a small boat like a gondola on the gentle rivulet. I realized the gondolier piloting us was Jesus, smiling as we lazily dipped our fingers in the stream, safely relaxing as we trekked to our destination.
This image spoke to me. Life is treacherous. There are so many things to get hung up on that can take you under. Jesus can help—and with flair.
Once in real life, I was ride-on-top kayaking with my mom and brother. I differentiate this from normal kayaking because I want to be clear that my mom and I were novices, expecting a gentle float down the river as usual. Nobody was being a daredevil. She was inexperienced, and I was no pro. Unbeknownst to us, it had recently rained, so the river was fuller and faster than usual. It started out calm, but before we knew it, the river picked up speed. While trying to steer around a curve, she lost her balance, fell out of the kayak, and was slung into a downed tree. I was paddling behind her and had a choice: leave her behind or get slung up with her. (I’ll insert here that I’ve since learned that the safer thing would have been to pass her, then immediately get to the shore and run back to help by land. If this ever happens to you, don’t opt to get slung into a tree.)
So there we were, doing one of the most dangerous things you can do in moving water: getting tangled up in a tree. We were hanging on to the top of the trunk, unable to pull ourselves higher. Our legs were below, standing on a sturdy branch. The water rushed against us, making it harder and harder to hang on. This is so dangerous because the water pressure will push your legs under the tree, taking the rest of you with them, and then you’re trapped underwater. Obviously, this is a less-than-ideal scenario.
I don’t know that I’ve ever yelled the name of Jesus as loudly as I did that day and without any shame whatsoever. I’m fully convinced that supernatural forces kept our legs from being sucked under that tree. There’s no other explanation for it. As you can guess, we escaped the tree and survived to tell about it.
That happened at the beginning of a half-day float. And the only way to get back to the car was to finish the journey down the river in our kayaks. Talk about the sound of rushing water striking terror in your soul. It was a brutal afternoon. (Read more here: “Faith Jacket”)
Because of that history, the chaotic river in my imagination evoked an immediate sense of danger, dread, and helplessness. In contrast, the clear rivulet, with Jesus as our guide, evoked the same blessed relief as when we finally reached shore after a harrowing afternoon.
Events in our lives threaten our safety and well-being, whether physical, emotional, or material. Life is sometimes harrowing. We’re panicked, overwhelmed, and helpless to rescue ourselves from our situation. We need Jesus to pilot us out of the chaos and into his peace. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (NLT).
Perhaps you think you don’t deserve to be rescued from your circumstances. Maybe you caused them yourself. It doesn’t matter. Let me assure you that none of us deserves God’s help. He saves us because he is good, not because we are.
“The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.” (Psalm 145:18-19) If you’re tired of trying to get yourself out of whatever chaos you’re in, call on Jesus. He is able and willing to bring us through every hazard safely.