The Adventures of Noah Asher
By Noah Asher
@TheNoahAsher
Growing up in the south should mean that I’m used to bugs, animals of all kinds, dirt roads, and everything else ever mentioned in a country song by Luke Bryan. But I’m quite the opposite. I love adventure, but I also love air-conditioning. I love it so much that I think we should have a day off to celebrate the inventor of such an amazing machine. So, for me, summers are a time to “hunker-down” inside, not ride dirt roads with the windows down thinkin’ bout tractors!
My friends, though, convinced me once (just once) to go “floatin’ down the river” with them in kayaks. The adventurous side of me was ecstatic. The part of my brain that enjoys comfort was not at all enthusiastic. And it only got worse when one of my friends gave me some helpful tips: Don’t let your kayak float under the tree branches with moss because a water moccasin might fall out of the tree in your lap…and if you see an alligator, stay calm. It should float on by…
What!? Where are we kayaking? A swamp?
At first, I thought he was joking, but then I watched him pack a pistol “just in case.” I didn’t know whether to pee my pants or write my will! Or both!
But because I’m a guy, I tried not to show fear as we began this journey to our possible deaths.
Everything went well the first half of the trip. We were all having a great time until we encountered a fallen tree in our path. (And no, I don’t know if it made a sound…)
We were on a part of the river that was very narrow; land was close on both sides. So, when we came up on this tree that fell, it was laying across the whole width of the river. The only option was going over it.
We had been on the river for about two hours, and I was still alive so I decided to man-up and go first. You know, show them how it’s done!
I shifted my kayak parallel to the tree, got out onto the log, and pulled it over to the other side. As I had one foot in the kayak and one on the tree, my friend decided to point out that there was a spider by my foot.
He said: “Look at this spider, dude.”
I heard: “Retreat! This spider is gonna eat us all!”
Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it’s my story to tell. So, with one foot in and one on the tree, I looked back quickly yelling, “W-where?!” And that’s when I fell into the water.
My kayak was tipped over, taking on water like the Titanic; and I was flailing-about getting ready to meet Peter at the Pearly Gates.
I hollered out, “Grayson, help!” as I continued doggy-paddling to stay above the water.
Then—between his hysterical fits of laughter—Grayson calmly said, “Bro, stand up.”
It took a good twenty seconds to process what he had just told me. And then I obeyed. I quickly found out that the water wasn’t even four feet deep….so embarrassing!
Up to that part of the trip, I was scared, but I at least felt a little safe being in the kayak. When I was “drowning”, fear took over completely. All at once I thought I was going to drown, be bitten by a deadly spider, have a water moccasin attack me, and then an alligator eat me whole. But Grayson brought me back to reality….”Stand up.”
Peter also had an exciting experience with getting out of a boat. The story is found in Matthew 14:22-32. If you don’t know the story, I’ll sum it up for you:
The Disciples were on a boat when a big storm began. They were being tossed all around and I’m sure getting sea sick. Then in the midst of the storm, Jesus shows up walking on the water, making all of the Disciples poop their pants in fear (my educated guess). Then Jesus says, “Chill out! It’s just Me!” Peter steps forward and says, “If it’s You, then let me come walk on water with You!” Peter did. But not too long into it, he began noticing the storm around him and he sank. But Jesus reached out and picked Peter up.
I always assumed that once Jesus showed up, the wind and waves were calm, but that’s not the case. The storm continued even as Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water.
(Most people give Peter a hard time for sinking, and their points are solid. He had just watched Jesus feed over 5000 people with only two fish and five loaves, among many other miracles that revealed how capable and powerful Jesus was/ is. But so did the others, yet Peter was the only one willing to take a step out of the boat. So, give the guy a break!)
Once Peter stepped out of the boat, Chaos surrounded him—stealing his attention from Jesus—and it caused him to sink like a rock. (I’m sure, as he sank, he screamed like a little girl; just as I did.) He let his fear take over his focus on Jesus. He began looking at the size of the Chaos around him instead of focusing ahead toward the One who has the ability to heal, provide, and do other miracles Peter had witnessed up to this point!
Peter gets out of the boat, but fear of the wind and waves made him start to sink. Our Chaos can make us forget reality at times as we freakishly try not to drown (or be eaten by alligators). Our Chaos can cause us to sink because contrary to Luke Bryan, rain isn’t always a “good thing”. But let me help bring your focus back…Stand up! I hope this will help open your eyes to see that it’s not really as bad as you thought. It definitely isn’t when you stand up and look ahead toward Jesus.
I heard someone once say, “The secret to life is: Fall down seven times…and get up eight.”
Don’t let fear paralyze you. Don’t let Chaos drown you. Don’t let the enemy swallow you whole. And don’t let your present circumstances define you. Even if it’s your seventh time falling or sinking, stand up. Stay focused ahead. He’s bigger than the waves. He’s stronger than any alligator. The struggle is real, but so is my God!
Underline this or highlight this: The magnitude of your storm is nothing compared to the Power of Jesus!
That same power that makes us more than conquerors is the same power keeping you above the wind and waves of your Chaos. And it’s the same power living inside of you today. (Check out Romans 8.)
When our lives are in chaos, it’s sometimes difficult to see past the pain. Chaos hurts us in different ways like illness, addiction, loss, rejection, and the list is endless. We are left to doggy paddle just to stay above the water. And I’m here to tell you: Stand Up! You got this. You may have sunk, but this doesn’t mean your story is over. The waves consumed me, took me under. But Jesus took me by the hand as He did with Peter. As He does with you.
“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.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
About Noah Asher
Noah Asher is the author of the Award-Winning Christian book, CHAOS: Overcoming the Overwhelming. Noah brings Hope, Help, Humor everywhere he goes. He travels and speaks at prisons and rehabs around America. He is also the owner of The Chaos Movement; they help coach authors and provide marketing services. For more information, check out: http://www.TheNoahAsher.com
Connect with Noah-
Share your favorite recipe + their story
Hey there, friend!
I want to welcome you to the newest addition to the Farmhouse Storyteller Journal- Homestead Hearth, where we celebrate the heart and soul of homestead cooking. Our homestead is a cherished gathering place for tired hog drivers to Sunday dinner. Just as the hearth symbolizes warmth and togetherness, we invite you to join us in sharing the cherished recipes that have brought nourishment and joy to our family table.
Since returning to the country, I have found that food is more than just sustenance – it’s a connection to our past, a celebration of family roots, and a way to create lasting memories. That’s why we’re not just sharing our own family recipes; we’re extending the table to welcome contributions from YOU! Whether it’s a treasured recipe that’s been passed down through generations or a new favorite that captures the spirit of homestead living, we invite you to share it with our community.
Reach out by replying to this email or writing me at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com.
So come, pull up a chair, and join us by the hearth. Let’s celebrate the bounty of the homestead together, one delicious recipe at a time.
Grounded in the Middle Podcast-With Noah Asher
Grounded in the Middle podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can easily listen by clicking below. I’d be so grateful if you would rate, subscribe, and share.
https://anchor.fm/s/6911d744/podcast/rss
A Blueprint for Intentional Living – Grounded in the Middle.
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