November 3, 2025 Devo

About six years ago, a father by the name of Fred Pepperman gave his life to save his daughters. The Tennessee family was vacationing near Panama City, Florida, when their sixteen-year-old daughter got caught in a riptide. She yelled for help, and her two adult sisters swam out to help her. But then they, too, couldn’t swim back. When Fred heard his daughters’ screams and saw them floundering for help, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately jumped into the water and swam towards them. Another family member swam out on a board to help.
The 53-year-old father was able to get all three of his daughters to the board and to safety. But he exhausted himself in the process, lost consciousness, and died at a hospital a few hours later. His last words to his daughter were, “I’ve got you.” Fred’s wife Julie later said to reporters, “He did everything a father is supposed to do.” Truer words were never spoken.
That’s what our Heavenly Father did for us. When we were floundering in the riptide of sin and destruction, our Father jumped in to save us. He left the safe shores of Heaven and, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to earth to rescue us. We had no ability to save ourselves. No other person could pull us out. But our Father willingly gave His life that we might live. “He did everything a Father is supposed to do.” We have New Life because of His Sacrificial Love.
Let me suggest to you that our Father, who was willing to do all that to rescue us, will not abandon us now. The One who gave His life that we might live won’t turn His back on us when we need rescuing again. Do you find yourself in a difficult situation? Call out to Him. Do you find yourself being overcome by wave after wave of struggles? Call out to Him. Do you find yourself exhausted by your circumstances and feel as if you just can’t keep your head above the water one more moment? Call out to Him! The One who jumped in before will jump in again.
The psalmist reminds us that we are God’s “beloved” people. There’s nothing that He’s not willing to do for us. His love for you is beyond what you could ever imagine. Not only that, but He possesses a power that is equal to that love! He can pull you out of any riptide that life may be drowning you in. Call out to Him today and experience His rescuing love and power for yourself. “He will do everything a Father is supposed to do.” If you listen closely, you may even hear His loving whisper, “I’ve got you.” That’s God’s Word for you today.