“Peep! Peep! Peep!” The fluffy little ducklings cried out. They had fallen into a sewer drain. A deep, dark, damp dungeon with no hope of getting free. And yet they kept crying, hearing their mama answer them with distressed quacks.
Mama Duck could not rescue them, though her limping gave evidence of how she must have tried to.
My husband discovered these trapped ducklings just a few feet away on our condo driveway. Through the grate I could see at least three of them, but we were helpless to reach them.
I called Animal Control and asked if they could do something. They came quickly. A man looked through the grate on one side of the driveway while a woman was on the other side. They coaxed the ducklings to one end or the other, then reached nets into the openings at the sides of the curbs. They managed to rescue a dozen of them! They reunited them with Mama and brought them to a safer place.
At one point the woman asked me to hold one. He was quivering so badly. I could just imagine how afraid he was.
Have you ever tumbled into a dungeon of despair? Helpless. Hopeless. Afraid.
The ducklings kept crying, but there are times when we become so weak and discouraged that we can’t cry anymore. We can’t lift up our heads. We can’t grasp onto God’s promises to deliver us.
As the apostle Paul says in a time of crushing, overwhelming troubles, “We expected to die.”
“We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,
about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia.
We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure,
and we thought we would never live through it.
In fact, we expected to die.
But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves
and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
And He did rescue us from mortal danger,
and He will rescue us again.
We have placed our confidence in Him,
and He will continue to rescue us.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
But like Paul, we didn’t die. Why? Because there is a Rescuer who is always willing and ready to pull us up again. Out of darkness and despair. He knows where we are and what we need. He hears our groans. He even hears our silence.
Sometimes we have to wait a while and it seems He will never come for us. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t care, doesn’t understand, doesn’t love us. He has His reasons for not always answering immediately. Reasons for our good. In His time and way, He will come.
Troubles actually make us realize how insufficient we are in ourselves. They push us into the need for a Rescuer. They help us to grow more dependent on God.
God is faithful. He will do what He promises. Three times Paul assures us of this. He did rescue us. He will rescue us again. He will continue to rescue us. And each time He comes, He will gather us up into His safe and loving arms and breathe courage into our fainting hearts to keep taking one step at a time.
“Jesus gave His life for our sins,
just as God our Father planned,
in order to rescue us from
this evil world in which we live.”
Galatians 1:4 NLT
“Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am He, I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4
“It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed,
Because His [tender] compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP
“Rescue Me”
by Selah
“Rescue me, my God and my King
Water’s are rising and I cannot breathe
Wrap your arms all around me and
Carry me over, carry me over
(Rescue me)”
Freed to Fly 
Oh my goodness, Trudy. I needed this so badly today. Praying I can actually wrap my heart around it and hold it. Thank you, friend. ❤️
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Hi Stonescry. I’m so glad these truths ministered to you. It can really be hard to embrace it with our hearts sometimes, can’t it? May Jesus help us to cling to Him and give us ever deeper healing! Hugs!
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Oh Trudy this is so beautiful! You continue to deeply touch my heart with the stories that God makes alive through your writing. I love this: “He even hears our silence.” When God gave me that promise in Isaiah 46, that He would sustain and carry me, I was a young Mom with very little children, beginning a cross-country move. Little did I realize that He would continue to use that verse all the way through to the days when I too would be the one with the gray hairs approaching old age …. waiting in a time of silence for His rescuing once again. Thank you so much for this beautiful reminder today! God Bless you my friend. *HUGS*
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Thank you, Bettie. I’m so glad your heart is touched. I’m sorry you’re in a time of silence right now. Waiting can be so hard, can’t it? He will come! That’s awesome that God has used that Isaiah verse throughout the years. May we cling to the truth that God will continue to carry, sustain, and rescue us! Hugs!
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This is just what I needed today, Trudy, my dear sister and friend! So amazingly written and it touched my heart and soul in a beautiful way! I loved the song, too! It is such a joy to see how you allow God to work through you in so many ways. Jesus definitely shines through you to so many people! I love you!
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Hi Arlene! I rejoice that your heart and soul were touched in a beautiful way. It has been a difficult journey, but God has faithfully rescued us again and again, hasn’t He? Thank you for your loving support and encouragement not only here but throughout the years. Jesus definitely shines through you to so many, too! I love you, too, my dear sister and friend! May we cling to Jesus and His unfailing love for us! Hugs!
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Such encouraging words, Trudy. Today, out with my little girl, I admired this huge flower clock placed on a roundabout close to our home and it made me think of the verse: He has made all things beautiful in its time. And your post brings that back: He’s making us beautiful by teaching us to lean on Him through the most awful of circumstances. Yes, so true: “But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t care, doesn’t understand, doesn’t love us. He has His reasons for not always answering immediately. Reasons for our good. In His time and way, He will come.”
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Thank you, Anna. I’m so happy you were encouraged. It’s so amazing how God makes us “beautiful by teaching us to lean on Him through the most awful of circumstances.” He makes all our broken beautiful. May Jesus help us to cling to Him as the One who cares, understands, and loves us so much! Hugs!
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What a beautiful rescue story. So glad you saw those ducks! And feel so refreshed again, visiting her. He carries us over the waters, both calm and stormy. Right now I am blessed that my waters just have a few tossing waves but know storms may come, yet He’s always steering me through them
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Thank you, Lynn. I’m glad the waves aren’t bowling you over right now. He knows we need some calm times, too. But yes, He will carry us over both calm and stormy waters. We need Him every moment. May we trust Jesus as the faithful Captain of our ships! Hugs!
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Amen, Trudy! God will come to our rescue each and every time. Thank you for this inspiration and reminder today!
Blessings!
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Hi Martha. Yes, He will! It might not always “feel” like it, but His faithfulness never changes. I’m glad you were inspired. May we cling to Him who has promised to be with us always, no matter what situation we’re in! Hugs!
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Trudy, What a wonderfully encouraging post!!
Thank you for reminding me that Jesus is always ready to rescue me . He sees me and my circumstances, circumstances He ordained through His loving hands and ones that will draw me closer to Him.
My life verse from Deuteronomy promises that the Lord will never leave me or foresake me. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, Karen. I’m so glad you were encouraged. Yes, Jesus sees you and your circumstances and is always ready to rescue you. I love the way you describe circumstances as ordained through His loving hands and ones that will draw us closer to Him. May we cling to that promise that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us, even when darkness cloaks us! Hugs!
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Great story about the ducklings- it’s a really good illustration of the fear and discouragement of being trapped and God’s power to rescue. I agree that it’s when we are at the end of ourselves that we learn to seek God and depend on his power. And I love the reminder that God’s rescue is an ongoing thing- that it is both past and future- as we look back on the times that God has rescued us in the past it can build our faith that he will continue to rescue us. And thank you too for sharing another lovely song.
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Thank you, Carly. I’m glad you found meaning in it. Yes, the more we come to the end of ourselves, the more we will depend on God’s power. May we cling to our Faithful Rescuer who has rescued us in the past and will continue to rescue us in the future! Hugs!
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Loved this piece, Trudy. This is my first visit to your blog. I’m after you on Lori Schumacker’s blog. When you wrote about the baby ducks and the momma it really made me think about all the times I’ve fallen into despair with parenting. It’s such a great blessing, but also a great responsibility. Thank you for sharing verses that can put it all in perspective!
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Thank you, Pam. I’m so glad you stopped by. Welcome! Yes, parenting can be so difficult sometimes, can’t it? As you say, such a great blessing but also a great responsibility. May God give the wisdom and strength needed! Hugs!
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I liked all those verses! I liked the story poor mama duck. It kinda reminds me on how we try and try to deal with our problems and just get hurt but then God comes and rescues us and heal us. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you, Kristina. I’m so glad those verses and the story ministered to you. Thank you for sharing what the Mama Duck story reminded you of. It’s so true that we try to deal with our problems ourselves. May we more and more learn to surrender ourselves to our Rescuer and Healer! Hugs!
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Trudy, I needed to read this today … I need to hold these truths close for myself and also for a loved one. I like how you pointed out that Paul stressed God’s deliverance three times … past, present and future. So comforting and encouraging. Thank you, my friend!
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Thank you, Lois. I rejoice that you were comforted and encouraged. I have to constantly remind myself of these truths, too. I pray you and your loved one will be rescued again and again. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God is faithful! May God help us to trust in His promise of deliverance for past, present, and future! Hugs!
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Trudy,
You are a duckling rescuer! I just loved this story and was amazed that you got help so quickly to free these little creatures! (Thank goodness it had a happy ending! :)) Now on the other hand I am trying to free a tiny toad from my courtyard but he keeps returning and I am going to have to resort to harsher measures (with my shoe) if he doesn’t stay out!! (I know you love all things toad and frog-related — if only you were here to move him to greener pastures!!) But I loved what you said about waiting on God and how he always keeps his promises to us — lovely words today, friend!
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Thank you, Valerie. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid no one could reach them, but it was amazing. Just like God’s rescue of us. It seems impossible from our side, but all things are possible through Him. May God help us to wait on Him and more and more to trust Him to keep His promises! Hugs!
By the way, I’d be happy to bring your little toad to greener pastures if I could. Where he won’t get stomped on! 🙂
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This is wonderful, Trudy! I was wondering if you’d write about your experience, you did so beautifully!
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Thank you for your kind words, June. It’s such an awesome wonder that Jesus comes to our rescue again and again and again. May we rest in His faithful love and care over us! Hugs!
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I Love this Trudy! I am glad you rescued the ducks and that God spoke this beautiful word to your heart- Thank you for sharing it and encouraging me tonight- It is so good and comforts my heart to know He will rescue me always – and loves me that much! Thanks! xoxo
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Thank you, Susie. I’m so glad you were encouraged. Yes, isn’t God’s love amazing? He never tires of rescuing us. May we come to know that love ever deeper! Hugs!
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Yes, I have found this to be true over and over: “Troubles actually make us realize how insufficient we are in ourselves. They push us into the need for a Rescuer. They help us to grow more dependent on God.” Maybe one day I’ll learn to rejoice quicker in sufferings instead of lamenting them right off the bat. ha. Thanks for sharing these truths, Trudy.
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“Maybe one day I’ll learn to rejoice quicker in sufferings instead of lamenting them right of the bat.” I so identify with this, Lisa. It’s a hard process to learn to rejoice in suffering, isn’t it? May we learn to rejoice in surrendering our ways to His! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy!
Hope! Hope! Hope! Amen❤️ Friend, I always know I can come her for a great big delivery of hope. Thank you! Jesus is our Rescuer. And, goodness, I love that song. I’m a little partial to Selah since they share the name with my daughter 😉
Thank you so much for coming alongside me each week and sharing the hope of Jesus at Moments of Hope!!
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Thank you, Lori. I rejoice that you find hope here. Yes, Jesus is our Rescuer! What hope there is in that! May hope in Jesus give us the courage and strength to go on day by day! Hugs!
P.S. What a beautiful name for your daughter! 🙂
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First visit to your blog. Beautiful. I needed to hear this about being rescued. My husband and I need rescuing from marriage problems. We do need a miracle.
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Welcome, Teacherlady. I’m so sorry you and your husband are having marriage problems. May God rescue you both in a miraculous way and fill you with His love and peace! Hugs!
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Thank you thank you! Need the rescue past, present and future as Paul talks about. I am so determined not to be a negative statistic. Pray for my husband’s heart to be softened toward the truth of Jesus! Thank you!
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I will keep praying. And remember that no matter what, in God’s eyes, you will never be a negative statistic. Hugs!
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