Trusting God saved my life
Originally appeared online in the teen series Trending - August 13, 2024.
I was rafting on the churning waters of the Arkansas River. The waves, intimidating to the other people in my boat, didn’t scare me a bit. We flew around a bend in the river, each rapid being nothing more to me than friendly bumps. I was so happy, so ready, so assured. I plowed my paddle forward.
“Stop!” our guide shouted. But I didn’t hear him. I was too busy playing chicken with the waves.
Our boat rammed into an unseen rock. I flew out of the raft, hit the frigid water, and had the wind knocked out of me. I surfaced quickly, my life jacket pulling me up. But I began to panic because I was far enough away that my raft-mates couldn’t see me. That’s also when I realized that I was the only one in the water.
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