“Sing to the LORD a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory!” (Psalm 98:1, CEB).

     My youngest son is an adventurous soul. He is a white-water rafting guide. A few years ago, the insisted that his parents take a trip down the river with him. To compound the excitement, the river was swollen from heavy rains. What typically is a leisurely level three experience turned into a level four thrill ride into the bowels of doom.

     My therapist has helped me erase most of the memories from that day, except for The Schoolhouse. The Schoolhouse is a narrow gap between two towering boulders that drops several feet over a waterfall. The Schoolhouse passage is Mother Nature’s way of teaching people who should know better not to mess with her.

     As we approached The Schoolhouse, all was going well until it wasn’t. A sudden turn sideways caused the raft to tip portside. As I was being catapulted vertically six feet into the air, my wife’s head was angling toward the broadside of a two-story boulder. (No, I am not exaggerating.)

     Without thinking, my son’s arm reached forward from his position in the back of the boat. Grasping tightly onto his mother’s life vest, he wrested the woman who had given him life away from the brink of what could have been a really bad hair day. Meanwhile, I was receiving treatment from an AED to restore my heart back to a normal sinus rhythm.

     Much about that terrifying experience is gone from my mind, with the exception of this harrowing moment in time. The arm of my son rescuing his mother from the certain crush of harm reminds me of the strong arm of my Savior that has redeemed me. King David, who experienced more than his fair share of uncertain moments sang triumphantly to the One who had redeemed him from peril:

“Sing to the LORD a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory!”

     If you are a follower of Jesus, your heart should likewise be singing harmoniously with the chorus of all those whose lives have been rescued from the lethal consequences of death and sin. The strong arms that held Jesus to the cross have redeemed us from the depths of certain destruction.

     Likewise, for those of you who find yourselves today drowning in despair or sinking beneath the waves of failure and futility, lift your arms. Reach out for help. Trust there is Someone whose grasp is sure. Welcome the words of hope and joy popularized by Carrie Underwood to become your own:

I was all out of hope, and all out of fight;
Couldn’t fight back the tears, so I fell on my knees,
Sayin’, “God if you’re there come and rescue me.”
Felt love pourin’ down from above;
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood.
And now I’m changed, and now I’m stronger.
There must be somethin’ in the water,
Oh, there must be somethin’ in the water.
And now I’m singin’ all along to “Amazin’ Grace,”
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face.