A young boy in Australia swam in the ocean for 4 hours to find help to save his mom and siblings after they were swept away by ocean currents.
Have you ever felt like you were drifting in the middle of a vast dark ocean with no shore in sight? Most of us have gone through moments where we felt the waves of life were too “massive” and our own strength just was not enough to keep us afloat. It is in those exact seconds of total helplessness that God steps in to provide a “superhuman” endurance we did not know we had.
He doesn’t look for the strongest or the most experienced person to work a miracle. Just like He chose a young shepherd named David to face a giant, He can use the smallest among us to carry out His plan. We might feel weak or puffed out, but His power is made perfect in that weakness.
We see this so clearly in this story of 13-year-old Austin Appelbee who conquered his fear and the freezing waves to bring his family back from the brink of tragedy.
Joanne Appelbee was on the water at Quindalup Beach with her three children when strong winds pulled their paddleboards and kayak 14 km out to sea. With no oars and the kayak taking on water they had to find a way to get rescued.
The Hardest Choice a Mother Could Make
Joanne knew she could not leave her youngest kids alone so she made the hardest choice a mom could ever make. She told her 13-year-old son Austin to try for the shore to get help.
Austin started on a broken kayak that was taking on water and it eventually flipped. He lost his oar and even had to ditch his life jacket because it was just getting in the way of his stroke.
Faith Over Fear
For four hours he was alone in massive waves with no boat and no help. To keep the fear away he focused on singing Christian songs and praying. He kept his mind on the “happiest things” he could find so the bad thoughts would not distract him.
“I just said, ‘Alright, not today, not today, not today. I have to keep on going.'”
When Austin finally hit the sand he collapsed but he was not done yet. He had to run two kilometers to find a phone.
Ten Hours of Waiting and Hoping
Meanwhile Joanne and her two children, 12-year-old Beau and eight-year-old Grace, were stranded for ten hours. Joanne admitted “We kept positive we were singing and we were joking.” They clung to the hope that God would see them through.
Austin passed out right after making that call and woke up in the hospital not even knowing if his family was alive.
A Miraculous Rescue
A search helicopter finally found them at 8:30 pm. They were clinging to a paddleboard in the dark. When Austin heard they were safe the whole hospital room started jumping for joy.
Even with sore legs and using crutches to walk Austin says he is not a hero. He says he just did what he had to do.
Austin’s story is a massive testimony to trusting God when things look impossible.
“We made it we’re alive and that’s the most important thing and I have all three babies. All three of them made it. That was all that mattered. It was good,” Joanne said.
You’re Not Alone
If you’re treading water and it feels way over your head, just know you aren’t alone out there.
We might not see the rescue boat yet. The shore feels miles away. But God is right in the choppy water with us anyway. He’s the one giving you that next breath. He’s the steady rhythm when your legs feel like lead and you want to stop.
Don’t let the bad things distract you. Don’t let them rob your peace. Just lean into those happy thoughts. Keep your heart fixed on the One who stills the storms.
You’ve got a strength inside you from Heaven. Just like Austin, you’re gonna make it to the other side.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
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