Little did I know that in one day my whole life would dramatically change. There was a hidden fear that had stayed with me and until this particular day I was not aware that I was bound by a stronghold of fear. I was about to learn quickly. This fear had attached itself to me in my teenage years.

And what was my unknown fear? The fear of DROWNING!!

This original fear of drowning came from an experience at the age of seventeen. I was swimming in the ocean and got caught in the undertow. When that happened I was immediately swept far from shore. I screamed for my grandma but she had removed her hearing aids and was basking in the sun! I cried out “Help, help!” Suddenly I felt what seemed like hands and arms lifting me up and carrying me out of the water. I found myself safely on shore. All I saw was a shadow. Whatever it was had disappeared.

And now back to my life-changing day. It began like any other day doing routine activities. I had plans to go shopping with my girlfriend. While I was waiting for my ride, I decided to scoop leaves from our swimming pool. I had just said goodbye to my husband, Gary, and went behind the house to the swimming pool.

Standing near the pool, suddenly I was thrust into the water by strong invisible hands on my back. As I plunged into the water, my foot was seriously injured. The excruciating pain caused me to black out and I sank to the bottom of the pool. Moments later I regained consciousness and understood immediately that I was drowning and facing death. From the pool’s bottom I looked up and saw a brilliant beam of light. I knew that I had to get to the light and start breathing. When I came up the first time I yelled, “Jesus, Jesus!”

While all this was occurring Gary was in his office. He thought that I had left because we had already said goodbye. My husband starting hearing the Holy Spirit say to him, “Go to the pool and get Carol.” Gary reasoned back, “She’s already gone, she’s not here; What do you mean?” In response, Holy Spirit spoke stronger and said, “GO NOW!” Once again natural reasoning tried to prevent Gary from reacting BUT he decided to check it out.

By this time I had somehow managed to get to the top of the water and began screaming again for help, took a deep breath and sank back to the bottom of the pool! Again I floated to the surface and Gary instantly went into rescue mode. He jumped into the water, grabbed my hair and pulled me up!

Right after Gary pulled me out of the water, Holy Spirit said to me, “Carol, I can save you from the deepest, darkest ocean anywhere.”

Think about that! There is an awesome truth in this statement that can sustain you in, through and out of any difficulty in your life.

I shared this story at my church and the Holy Spirit not only wanted to minister to people who had the fear of drowning, but other fears that had become strongholds.

The question was asked that night, “What’s your ocean?”

And that is what I’m asking you. What is your ocean of fear? What is your deepest dread? Do you feel like you are drowning in a sea of debt, disease, mental torment, fear of failure, fear of abandonment or rejection? Are you about to lose your home or your job? Or maybe you already have!

Are you desperately crying out for Jesus to help you just as I did when I was drowning? Are you drowning in the ocean of life? What thoughts torment you in the night season? God hears your every cry. When you cry out to Him for help He will not disappoint you.

Psalm 6:9 NCV“The Lord has heard my cry for help; the Lord will answer my prayer.

Psalm 69:13 NCV “But I pray to you, Lord, for favor. God, because of your great love, answer me. You are truly able to save.”

Psalms 46:1 NCV “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble.”

Just as people responded to this message at my church by coming to the altar and being delivered from life-long torments, so can you. God is the same God and He can and wants to deliver you. Call out to Jesus and trust that His Word is true. Jesus came to set the captives free – and anything that you are afraid of is included in that promise! Victory can be yours!

Isaiah 61:1 KJV “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

I want to encourage you to meditate on God’s Word. God’s Word is powerful and breaks down strongholds in our mind. Begin declaring and decreeing that you are an overcomer and free from fear. The following scriptures will bring you peace.

Psalm 144:7 NCV “Reach down from above. Save me and rescue me out of this sea of enemies…”

Luke 4:18 KJV “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Now check this out – years later my husband booked a cruise to the Bahamas as an anniversary gift. Do you think I could enjoy this after having almost drowned in the ocean — and then later in life in my own swimming pool?! I think not – BUT GOD! God allowed me to walk out my victory over fear in a big way. I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and I even swam in the ship’s pool! Imagine that!

NO FEAR OF DROWNING HERE!

Enjoy “Fear Not”