Seven years ago Gemma Sheridan and two of her friends set out for, what was supposed to be, the greatest adventure ever. Starting from their home town of Liverpool, they were going to cross the Atlantic Ocean, pass through the Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean, and on to the exotic island of Hawaii. And then things did not go according to plan... Not at all!
Following a series of traumatic events, including the loss of her two friends, Gemma was the sole survivor of their shipwrecked ordeal. Washed up on some deserted island, everything became about survival. In the earlier days Gemma had made a 10 foot SOS sign on the beach, but since no planes had flown over the island, it did not help. One thing Gemma did not do was give up. She spent much time building an even bigger sign in the hope that some day someone will find her.
Finally, seven years later something else also did not go according to plan - not Gemma's plan, anyway.
"Some kid from Minnesota found her SOS sign on Google Earth."
Gemma had no idea what Google Earth was...
(You can read more details of Gemma's experience on Newshound.org)
Gemma's story was such a tremendous inspiration. I don't know if Gemma knows the Lord, but I don't think that the "kid from Minnesota" found her coincidentally. I don't believe in coincidence. I do believe in a God of divine appointment; a very deliberate God, a God with a plan (Jer 29:11).
Whenever I read the Bible I am always amazed at the intricate details God pays attention to (and sometimes He would even explain the logic - interesting!) God thinks of everything and everyone - at the same time! I don't know of anyone else who has the uncanny ability to co-ordinate all of these universal elements into a flawless, spectacular plan the way He does.
In the same way God already knew every moment of your life before you've even taken that first breath. He also knows every detail about you, and He loves you! So He encourage us to not be afraid, to put our trust in Him, to ask Him for what we need - to have faith. He encourages us to do exactly what Gemma did: Not give up.
Whatever you may be facing today, I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize: Jesus. He is the beginning and the end, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Let Gemma's story inspire you.
If God could care enough to cause some random kid from Minnesota to spot a years old SOS sign with Google Earth, to cause a complete rescue mission to be organized with exact co-ordinates delivered on a silver platter (compliments of Google Earth) for some random woman from Liverpool who washed up on some unknown, deserted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean seven years ago, would He not also care enough to reach out to you and do something great for you today?!
You are not beyond His reach. And He has not forgotten about you. Whatever you may be in need of today - and maybe it even seems impossible to you - for God all things are possible. God can! Don't you dare give up on Him. Do what you can do and leave what you cannot do in His capable, faithful and loving hands.
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (Zech 4:6 NKJV)
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen 18:14 NKJV)
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26 NKJV)If God could do it for Gemma, He can do it for you.
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