I recently read of an event that happened a few years ago involving the Enterprise, a 90,000 ton nuclear powered aircraft carrier. It seems the carrier got stuck in the mud on its way into port in San Francisco Bay. The majestic 1,123 foot vessel with a crew of over 5,000 ran aground just over a thousand yards from shore.

Thousands of relatives and friends watched in disbelief as the great ship lurched to a complete halt and then refused to budge. Only a thousand yards from the carrier, people watched eagerly and helplessly as the tugboats were called in to drag the Enterprise from the sand bar. The tugs pushed and pulled in all directions. There was shouting of orders and much scurrying about. More tugboats were brought in to "gang up" on the huge ship. They tried everything. After five grueling hours, the ship was still stuck.

The crowd of relatives and friends on the dock looked on this spectacle with increasing frustration and anger. How could such a thing happen? Why couldn't they free the ship? Tension was mounting both on the ship and on the shore. Then, when everybody was at the end of their rope; when everything humanly possible had been done, help came from another source... the tide!

As the high tide began to gradually roll in, it lifted the huge ship right out of the mud where it had been stuck for hours, resisting all human effort to free it. The silent and powerful lift of the tide- with no help from man- solved the problem.

How many times do we find ourselves stuck in the mud and muck of life? We push and pull, we strain and struggle, we wrack our brains. Yet, despite all our mighty efforts, we are still stuck.

However, when God's spiritual tide comes in, we are powerfully and effortlessly lifted free to sail on again. There are times when we need to recall the words of Moses, "... stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord..." (Exodus 14:13). Maybe we need to remember the words penned by Zechariah, "... not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lords of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

Lord, help me to quit struggling. Help me to learn to trust in Your tide.