“Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God, let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you. I will protect you and save you.” --Isaiah 41:10

One hot summer afternoon in south Florida, a young boy decided to go for a swim in the pond behind his house. In a hurry to cool off, he dashed into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. Through her kitchen window, his horrified mom watched as the two moved closer and closer. Panic gripped her as she raced toward the water, screaming at her son to turn back.

But it was too late. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs in her sadistic jaws. An incredible tug-of-war ensued between the powerful gator determined to keep its prey and the overmatched mom, too passionate to let go.

A farmer driving by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot and killed the alligator.

Remarkably, after months in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were badly disfigured by the vicious animal. His arms too, were deeply scarred where his mother's fingernails dug into his soft flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she dearly loved.

While interviewing the young man, a reporter asked if she could see his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs with obvious pride. “But look at the great scars on my arms, too,” he beamed. “I got those cause my Mom wouldn't let go."

You and I are like that little boy. We have scars, too. Probably not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Bible teaches that God loves you and wants to protect you. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations.

My God, help me to remember always that the swimming hole of life is filled with peril, and my enemies lay waiting to attack. I’m so grateful that when the tug-of-war begins – I have the scars of Your love on my arms to prove that You will never let go of me!