I recently started reading “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis, and quickly saw why he is loved by so many. I fancy myself an honest writer, but reading Lewis cuts straight to the heart, exposing every confused, aching, troubled thought that Lewis knew was not uncommon among men.

The following quote reminded me of something I have known, but tend to forget. Imagery can communicate concepts that are beyond putting in plain language, and I always love an author who excels at this. Lewis reflects:

“The time when there is nothing at all in your soul except a cry for help may be just that time when God can’t give it: you are like the drowning man who can’t be helped because he clutches and grabs. Perhaps your own reiterated cries deafen you to the voice you hoped to hear.” 

My first job as a teenager was lifeguarding, and in our training, we were taught that drowning people are a risk to their rescuer. In their desperate attempts to be saved, they might frantically grab onto you, clinging to you with a death-grip, and drag you under with them. We were taught to approach an actively drowning person with one foot positioned to kick them away if we needed to. Before this type of drowning person could be saved, we had to shout at them to calm down.

You might have to shout as they slap the water “I’m here to save you. Calm down. Grab the kickboard. It’s right in front of you.”

As C.S. Lewis remarked: “Perhaps your own reiterated cries deafen you to the voice you hoped to hear.”

I generally don’t like when people say “God can’t” unless of course they are referring to sin. God can do whatever he pleases, and we can’t stand in his way. So, when Lewis says this is when God can’t give help to a person, I hesitate. But let’s pick apart Lewis’s thought here.

Note “there is nothing at all in your soul except a cry for help.” Faith isn’t intermingled with this person’s cry. They wail not believing help is coming. I wrote a poem about this experience once myself and it began:

Now it seems His hand has turned
against you,
yes, has seen you sinking
and has pressed your head
beneath the waves.

You think “To catch a breath,
is one small favor,
can’t He see?”

No one believes the hand that pushes them beneath the waves is the same hand that will rescue them. When your view of God is distorted and corrupted, you may still believe in him, but your cries for help are futile in your own mind. What you cry for isn’t so much to have your head lifted so you can breathe again; It is that this vicious God might drain the entire sea and surrender to you, admit that he has done you wrong, and make the world bright again.

When there is nothing in the soul except a cry for help, there is also no surrender. You won’t calm down. You won’t reach for the flotation device. You will grab the collar of the rescuer and try to wrestle salvation out of him.

But Jesus doesn’t need to wait with his foot poised to kick your flailing body away. The analogy dies here. God need not be afraid that you will take him down with you. He needs no extra device to stretch between himself and you, because Jesus stood in that place, reconciling God and man.

Desperate, hurting people, often believe God no longer cares, and isn’t listening to their cries.

Psalm 22:2 “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”

Frantic desperation matched with unbelief and forgetfulness about God’s goodness and love, leads many to say “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).  The good news is that these drowning people, even with doubtful cries for help, are still crying out to the God who is good, caring, and loving, even when they don’t see it. He doesn’t stand aloof but is full of compassion and stretching out his arms. You need to let your thrashing mind and body be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Psalm 107:26-31 speaks of the power and love of God, which rescues people whose courage has “melted away” and “at their wits’ end”:

“They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!”

God may often wait for Christians to surrender and quiet themselves before He steps in to lift their head. He’s our Father, and He knows how to deal with us best. But I would add to Lewis’s statement, that God might also snatch drowning children up from their madness, even despite themselves, intervening, and pouring light where there was only darkness. Isn’t that salvation after all? But as we mature as beloved children, God may let us slap at the waves awhile until we surrender.

C.S. Lewis reminded me of this poem I wrote several years ago, shared for you below.

He Will Not Let You Drown

Now it seems His hand has turned
against you,
yes, has seen you sinking
and has pressed your head
beneath the waves.

You think “To catch a breath,
is one small favor,
can’t He see?”
But yes, He sees;
So why do gray skies
blacken more
and gray waves
lash upon the shore?

But oh, His hand does stretch
to reach you,
see Him walk on stormy seas?
All around control has left you,
Where has gone the Lord of peace?
Your eyes are full of salt
you think you saw the Savior frowning,
do you really think
He stands aloof while His loved one’s drowning?

Lift up your eyes, He rends the Heavens
His presence dooms the tempest,
robs of power death’s cold sting
for drawing near, salvation brings
a smile yet, with warmth and love
though seems abandoned from above.

You reach, but frantic
hands wild, slapping, panic
collapse, you’re done, a sinking stone-
but no! It’s not true you’re alone,
“Lord save!”

Snatched, rushing upward, gasping,
rising up on eagle’s wings,
tired, faint;
Renew your strength.

The waters roar but louder still
the Rescuer with might and skill
tells waves to part and skies to clear,
with power speaks: “You need not fear.”
He will not let you drown
nor at your weakest wear a frown,
you fall on everlasting arms
of grace and strength, the Lord of storms
protects, sustains, and wages war
with every resource for the poor
peace, comfort, help, He will give
though still through fire you must live.

He will not let His children drown
nor at their weakest wear a frown.
The soul that waits and waiting cries
“Lord save”
He soon will sure supply.

You of little faith take heart
No never will He ever part.