Briton Surfs Over Tsunami Wave to SafetySurfer Tom Gogola claims he survived the recent tsunami that hit the island of Samoa by paddling towards the wave. The 22-year-old was on a three-week vacation on the island with his family when the tsunami hit, and Gogola was surfing when he saw the wave racing towards the shore. Gogola did the only thing that he thought he could do, and he paddled as hard as possible straight for the wave, aiming the tip of his surfboard up so the wave would not push the nose of his surfboard under the towering wall of water. Gogola says he rode right up and over the top of the wave, and he later had to be picked up by a boat after the tsunami had passed. Unfortunately, many other surfers were washed into the jungle areas of the island because they had tried to paddle away from the wave (towards the shore) when they saw the wave coming.
Gogola’s brazen attempt to face a rough situation head-on reminds me of yet another young man who likewise faced rough situations with courage and head-on determination. The Bible’s David once stood across a field from a giant warrior who wanted to rip him to shreds before the eyes of thousands of onlookers, and yet David “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him” (1 Samuel 17:48). David did not cower and run; he fully trusted that God (not himself) would turn this rough situation into a victory! – And that’s exactly what happened!
This wasn’t the first time David had met rough situations head-on. As David explained to King Saul before facing the giant on the battlefield, David had previously ran head-on after lions and bears that had come into the flock he was watching and carried off a sheep. David says he grabbed the wild animals with his bare hands, he rescued the sheep, and he struck and killed the animals. Goodness, this is downright AMAZING! – What unbelievable courage and gall this young man had! But his courage wasn’t rooted in his own abilities; instead it came from the hand of God that David knew was resting on him!
What rough situations might you be facing now or in the near future? Whatever rough situations are ahead, here’s some advice: Take courage and face the situation head-on, knowing that God’s hand will see you through it! Don’t try to swim away from the problem and run from the battle line, but swim towards it and “run quickly” to meet the situation face-to-face, as your trust remains completely in God. God will be the ultimate victor in the situation, because “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47); you just get to reap all the sweet benefits!
Further Contemplation (Regarding the Above Article)
1. Perhaps there is a much needed conversation you need to have with someone, but you’ve been afraid of what might happen if you approach the subject with the person. Stop cowering. Swim towards the wave! God will see you through it!
2. Maybe there are a group of people who are wrongly attacking you, and you know that a time is soon approaching when you will be put on the spot to share what is on your heart. Don’t run away from this opportunity! Run towards it and embrace it! God will see you through it! He will give you the words to say. The battle is his!
3. Perhaps you’ve observed a wrong of some kind, and you want to speak up and “blow the whistle” (in hopes that the situation will change), but maybe you’ve been reluctant because of various reasons. Stop cowering and do what it necessary; swim vigorously towards the wave with your surf board straight up and watch God get you through it!
4. Perhaps someone is pressuring you to do things you know are outside of God’s desire for you, but you’ve been too afraid to stand up for yourself and do what’s right. Don’t delay another second! – Take appropriate actions now, and trust that God will get you through any pain and discomfort that may come from doing what’s right! Just as a boat picked up the surfer after he had made it over the tsunami waves, God has a boat of peace and comfort waiting for you after you’ve done what’s right!
5. Please do not think that situations will eventually “fix themselves” if you ignore them. Rough situations only grow worse when you act like an ostrich with your head in the sand. Gogola would have ended up washed into the jungles of the island had he pretended that the tsunami would fix itself. David and all of the Israelites would have ended up slaves to the Philistines had they constantly sat idle and hoped that Goliath and his army would vanish on their own. There comes a time to run to the battle line, and that time is now.
