As Christians we struggle as we progress on our walk with the Lord. Though we couldn’t pick up the stumbling turtle on his journey…we are constantly picked up by God.  He picks us up and gets us back on the right pathway.

The Tenacious Sea Turtle

My son, my six year old grandson, and I went to Stuart Beach to jump waves and enjoy the Florida sunshine. On our walk up the sand to head home we noticed an excited gathering of beach people. We went over to see what was happening and we saw one tiny, gray, baby sea turtle slowly flapping through the rough sand on his journey to the ocean. Everyone knew not to touch the turtle or help him reach his goal of swimming into the sea. We joined the group who were cheering the turtle onto his destiny. His progress was slow, but sure, until he dropped into a shallow sandal print in the sand. He flapped and turned and flapped some more and finally, to our joy, got himself out of his first obstacle. He was now headed for another, yet deeper, shoe print and all the crowd could do was watch. It was hard not to pick him up and help him to the other side onto easy, scooting sand.  We all spontaneously clapped when he struggled out of his second challenge.

Finally, he was getting close to the edge of the water. He made it up to the first incoming wave and then immediately got thrown back into the wet sand as the wave receded. The determined turtle soldiered on and caught the next incoming wave. He swam into it like an Olympic champ and headed for the deeper water. With big smiles and cheers we watched him swim out of sight.

As the crowd of observers broke up, my son sadly said, “It will be a miracle if he survives as far as a hundred yards out to sea. There are too many of his natural enemies out there in the air and in the water that want to devour him.  He may not live long enough to become a mature turtle.”

The Tenacious Christian

We Christians, like the baby turtle, have enemies that want to devour us. They want to stop us from soldiering forward and growing in grace. Our strongest enemy is Satan, the deceiver. He is the indented footprint in the sand that trips us up in our Christian walk.  He does not want us to grow in grace. He loves to whisper lies to us and cause us to struggle and stumble. He whispers, “Jesus didn’t pay it all! You have to do something too.”  And, “It is okay to tell a white lie….it won’t hurt anyone and God won’t care.”

“Stay alert! Watch out for our great enemy, the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).

We too, like the turtle, have other enemies. As Pogo wisely said, “We have met the enemy and it is us.”  Pride is an enemy of our own making. Pride is the wave that knocks us over and causes us to fall back.  Pride shouts, “I know more than our Sunday School teacher. I should be the one who’s teaching.” And “I know enough about the Bible. I don’t need to go to church anymore.” Pride’s hero is the great and mighty “I”.

“The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). 

“Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:16).

One thing we know about our turtle, he doesn’t care about owning the whole ocean. He is content to enjoy the moment. Very often we Christians are swallowed up in a sea of discontentment. We are drowning in an ocean of wanting more money. We aren’t content with what we have.

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5).

As Christians we struggle as we progress on our walk with the Lord. Though we couldn’t pick up the stumbling turtle on his journey…we are constantly picked up by God.  He picks us up and gets us back on the right pathway.

“Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness…” (Joel 2:13).

It was wonderful being part of the cheering crowd that was urging our little turtle on his way.  Many people wanted to help him on his way. People who wanted him to succeed in his journey. We also have a great crowd of witnesses cheering and encouraging us.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1).

We will never know if our little turtle overcame all his enemies and grew up to be a wise old sea turtle.  However, we who are called by God will be kept by God until the day of redemption.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom, to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).

Miriam Gautier is a member of Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Stuart, Fla.