Tips For Surviving Quicksand

One of my biggest fears as a child was of falling into quicksand. I didn’t understand that quicksand did not exist in Livingston, Tennessee, so to me, the fear was real. What would I do if I fell in? How would I ever get out? These were the questions that plagued me for years. I was just sure that quicksand was around the lake since it was sandy near the water.

The worst thing about quicksand is that once you step in, it is really hard to find your way out. Once you fall in, it is really hard to untangle yourself. The idea of sinking deeply into the mud and muck and feeling helpless is terrible. It seems like the harder you struggle, the deeper you sink.

I was thinking about sin today; it is the worst kind of quicksand. Lying is one of the easiest quicksand sins to trap you. You might start out by telling a small, little white lie. You think it is innocent enough, and no one will get hurt. The next thing you know, you have to tell another lie to cover for the first lie. Pretty soon, you can find yourself so deep in all the lies that there doesn’t seem to be a way out.

Drugs are another quicksand trap. Many, many people have gotten hooked on drugs that were written for a medical condition. Some strong, addictive drugs can hook you before you know what has hit you, and you can find yourself looking for any way you can to get these drugs. Some people have resorted to buying from dealers, stealing, and prostituting as a means of acquiring the drugs.

How do we escape the quicksand?

BE STILL

How many times do we think “we” have to do it all? I find myself running around here and there, trying to fix one problem after another. However, the Lord tells us to Be Still. This is not easy for me, I feel the need to worry and stress, but that is not what he commanded.

In Exodus 14:13 NIV

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

Psalm 62:5-6 NIV

⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. ⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

FEAR NOT

The fear is overwhelming; how will I ever dig myself out of this circumstance? Do you think that the devil has a grip on you and that you can’t seem to shake off his hand? Are you afraid to let go, do you hold on to what you know is wrong because you are afraid what the consequences will be?

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

DROP EVERYTHING

Drop to your knees and pray. Drop all the extra loads that you carry with you and give them over to the Lord. He will take your burdens; he already knows what they are anyway.

Psalm 5:6 NIV

⁶ you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.

Let the Lord guide you, reach for his hand, and drop to your knees in prayer. He will not forsake you in your time of need; He is with you always.

Quicksand is no longer a fear of mine. I have the tools I need to survive; I just need to remember to use them.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Have a Blessed Sunday!