Dark storm clouds swept across the sky, blotting out the glistening sunlight.  The howling wind shook the sleepy waves awake, arousing their fury.  Like a rabid dog, the waves foamed and lunged at any and everything.  There was no way for Dennis and Larry to escape its grip.  Their small fishing boat no longer offered protection as the waves tossed them about as if they were a toy.  Dennis anxiously called out to his friend, "What are we going to do, Larry? The boat is filling up with water!"  Dennis gripped his seat tighter.  "What if we sink? How will we get back to shore?"  Dennis screamed above the pounding waves.  "What if there's sharks in here?"

Larry was not irritated by Dennis's endless questioning, but rather reassured him, "Dennis, just trust in God. He will give us the strength to endure."

 "But, we just can't sit here and let the water keep pouring in!" Dennis uneasily blurted out when a large wave crashed over the side of the boat.

"I know, Dennis, but there's nothing we can do," Larry calmly countered.  "Just give your worries over to ...."

"Okay, I've heard enough," Dennis interrupted.  "All you talk about is God this and God that. Well, all that nonsense is not for me."

Dennis's white-knuckle grip tightened as the angry waves rocked their small boat more and more.  The water rose higher and higher in the boat until it covered his feet.  Seconds later, his whole life was turned upside down, as he was thrown into the unforgiving waves.  "No! This can't be happening to me!" he screamed as he plummeted beneath the surface of the water.  He saw his life pass before him and thought, Is this how I'm going to die?  His lungs screamed for air as he continued to sink.  He desperately kicked his feet and he slowly began to ascend upwards.  But, it seemed as if he was going nowhere.  Then, his head suddenly popped out of the water.  He gasped for much-needed air and opened his eyes just as a wave crashed over his head.  Wiping the water from his eyes, he realized that his fight for life was not over yet.

Now, he thought, I have to find Larry and the boat.  The waves constantly slapped his face with water, making it impossible to see.  Will I ever find the boat?  Dennis worried as huge walls of water rose up around him and came splashing down upon him.  After two hours of swimming, Dennis finally found the boat.  He reached above his head and grasped onto a small ledge on the bottom of the capsized boat.  Just then, a wave crashed into the boat.  His fingers slipped, and he plunged back into the ocean.  "Larry! Larry! Help me, please! Where are you?" he yelled out.  His heartbeat pounded in his ears as he waited for an answer.  But, it never came.  All he could hear was the angry waves churning and swirling around him.  Larry must have drowned, Dennis concluded as the waves crowded around him, trying to squeeze the very life out of him.  If only I had the strength to get into the boat, Dennis groaned.  Then, I would have a better chance of surviving.  As he helplessly bobbed up and down next to the boat, the ocean shouted in his ears, "You're ours now!  You can't escape from our grasp!"  They were on a mission and showed no signs of surrendering. 

Then, Dennis remembered.  When Larry was confronted with a difficult situation, he would pray. He always told me that's why he was at peace, but I never believed him. I considered it a sign of weakness to ask someone else to help you, but now I wonder if praying would help.  Finally, he cried out in desperation, "Oh God, I can't take it any longer! If you are up there, please send help!"  A calm, peaceful feeling swept over his body, just as the waves had swept over him during the storm, but this time, he relaxed rather than fought.  I can't explain it, but somehow I feel at peace, almost as if I was safe again. There still isn't any help in sight, but I'm not as worried about it as much. Maybe, just maybe, Larry was right about God.

As the hours wore on, his old way of thinking gradually overtook his calm, safe feeling.  As he anxiously watched the sun slip behind the seemingly never-ending ocean, he moaned, Will I ever be found? How long will this agony continue?  The darkness stared him in his face and crooned, "Close your eyes, you need the rest."  He raised his shaking hands to his face and cried aloud, "No! I can't close my eyes!  If I do, I won't wake up!"  His whole body shook with fear and anxiety as he opened his eyes even wider.  The darkness only crowded closer around him.  The only light he could see was the eerie glow of the moon rippling on the water.  Resembling vultures hovering above their prey, the moon and stars watched from above with anticipation for the moment that he would give up.  If that was not enough, the waves constantly lapped at him, anxiously waiting to swallow him.  They knew he could only last so long.  Will this night ever end?  Is the whole world against me?

But, ever so slowly, the early glow of morning overtook the darkness.  As Dennis rubbed his eyes, he realized his experience the night before must have been a hallucination. It's amazing that I survived the night, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out.  As the sun shone warmly on his face, Dennis began to have a very strong sense that someone or something was watching him.  Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a grey streak.  Something was coming toward him.  He turned his head in that direction, but nothing was there.  I hope that wasn't a shark.  Before he could think anything else, a baby dolphin jumped out of the water directly in front of him.  "Yikes! You almost gave me a heart attack! Where in the world did you come from?"  Dennis shrieked as the dolphin gracefully slipped underwater.  "Wow! That was incredible!"  The little dolphin surfaced again, this time about an arm's length away.  It stopped and looked directly into Dennis's eyes.  Its bright, shiny eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity.  Dennis could hardly breathe.  Never before have I been so close to a wild dolphin, let alone make direct eye contact with one.  Why would a dolphin be intrigued with me?  Does it want to tell me something or is it just curious?  Dennis wrinkled his brow as he gazed at the sleek, dark grey head of the dolphin.  It broke its stare and circled around him once before disappearing underwater.  A few seconds later, it was back, circling around him again.  "What in the world are you doing? Have you gone crazy or what?" Dennis asked.  The little dolphin stopped right in front of Dennis and stared into his eyes.  "Now what are you up to?" Dennis asked. "Did you come to help me or play with me?"  The dolphin squeaked happily before circling around him again.  It snorted out of its blowhole as it leaped out of the water and slipped back underwater without making a splash.  Dennis thought to himself, That dolphin put on quite a show. It sure took my mind off my problems, at least for a little while. I wonder if it will return?  Raising his head above the waves, he caught sight of a large dorsal fin.  Oh, it must be one of the young dolphin's friends. It must have really liked me. Wait a minute, is that a dolphin or is it....  Dennis strained to look closer.  That's what I thought.  It's a shark.  Now I know why the dolphin left.  Or, was it trying to let me know to get out of here?  Dennis glanced around again.  Now, look what I've attracted.  Three more sharks.  If only it was a bad dream, but no, it's really happening.  And, there's no way I can escape it.  I can't turn over or climb on top of the boat, and I definitely can't swim faster than the sharks.  I guess, I'll just have to be eaten alive....

            Dennis had long since forgotten about his friend Larry, but unbeknownst to him, Larry had survived the storm.  Only a mile of ocean separated them from each other, but they both assumed that each other had drowned.  After swimming, resting and praying all morning since being capsized, Larry still had not seen any land or even a single fishing boat.  His mind tried to discourage him by saying, "You know, Larry, it would be nearly impossible for someone to locate you in the midst of this huge ocean.  You're probably going to drown.  No one will ever find you."

However, his faith in God kept him strong in those times.  "Yes, I realize that is possible," Larry would reply, "but I choose to believe God's Word that says 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.' So, stop worrying and start praying."

About noontime as Larry was praying and floating with his eyes closed, he felt the rough skin of a huge creature brush against him.  "What was that?  Did I just feel something rub against me?"  Larry whispered.  The next thing he knew, a strong sea creature was lifting him just above the surface of the water.  "God, we're in for an adventure!  I ask you to please protect me!" he called out.  Staying as still as possible and with eyes still closed, Larry wondered, What could be carrying me?  Larry slowly turned his head and cautiously looked to see what this creature was.  Directly underneath him was a huge, flat creature that was at least eleven feet long.  It propelled itself by "flapping" its two "wings" that consisted of a thick layer of skin.  The most obvious thing, though, on this creature was its six-foot long, whiplike tail with sharp spines on it.  I can't believe that I'm riding on this thing. I've never seen such a unique creature in my whole life.  What if it suddenly attacks me or takes me farther out to sea?  Larry scratched his head, perplexed about his situation.  Then, he remembered, "Didn't I ask You, God, to send help?  I should have known I had to be specific about what kind of help. I thought You'd send a human or let me find land. But, no You had to send me a creature like this. How is it going to know where to take me? You didn't give it a map, did You?  You might think it's funny, but I sure don't. I wanted help, not a pleasure ride."

A little while later, Larry rolled over onto his stomach and discovered that he was surrounded by a school of fish.  I'm certainly hungry enough to eat a raw fish.  With one hand securely grasping the "shoulder" of his new angel of the sea, he watched the fish dart back and forth all around him.  I wonder if I could catch one of those fish, he thought as he stuck his hand into the water.  There's no reason I should go hungry when I'm surrounded by fish.  After several attempts, Larry finally seized a small fish.  Now, the hardest part is going to be eating this fish, he contemplated as he held the squirming fish with both hands.  But, I guess, I shouldn't complain, because it is free food. 

Not long after that, Larry found himself petting the rough, hard skin of his new friend as he remembered the fun times he had twenty years ago with the family dog.  

When he was about four years old, Larry had decided to climb on their Saint Bernard's back instead of waiting for his ride in the little red wagon.  The Saint Bernard had carried Larry and pulled the wagon with his sister in it down their driveway.  Before the gentle giant turned around to go back up the small hill, he had stopped, indicating that the ride was over.

Larry suddenly snapped back into reality as the creature he had been riding on dove underwater and disappeared out of sight.  He shook his head to clear the water from his eyes, but wished he had kept reminiscing about the good times.  Suddenly, three mammoth sharks emerged and headed straight for him.  "Oh! Lord," Larry cried out loud, "where is my angel of the sea now that I need him the most?  Why did it leave now that the sharks are coming?  God, I need your help!"  Just as he finished, Larry's angel of the sea reappeared.  He thought aloud, "Oh, good, you're back.  Can we leave now, before the sharks come any closer?"  Instead of returning to Larry, it began to circle around him.  When he clearly saw that it did not intend to pick him up again, Larry began questioning,  "Don't you know that my life is in danger?  Circling around me won't keep the sharks from attacking me, will it?"  Larry closed his eyes and returned to floating on his back in an attempt to block out the mental images of sharks attacking him.  Nevertheless, he found himself worrying and thinking about the sharks.  Therefore, he started praying, "God, unless you do a miracle soon, I think I will die.  Couldn't You please rescue me?"  After the longest sixty seconds had passed, Larry gingerly opened one eye, expecting to look one of the sharks right in its mouth.  His mouth dropped open in shock at what he saw.  The sharks were headed in the opposite direction.  I can't believe it! Sharks are leaving!  It's a miracle that I didn't get eaten alive. Thank you, God! At that moment, Larry felt a gentle rubbing against his back.  His angel of the sea was letting him know that it was time to go.  Larry turned over and grabbed its shoulders just in time for his ride to take off.  "Thanks, buddy, for coming to get me and for protecting me from those hungry sharks.  If it hadn't been for you or your Creator, I wouldn't be alive," Larry uttered with a trembling voice. "God, I can't thank you enough for sending help just at the right time.  You're the best life saver in the whole world.  All I ask, now, Lord, is that I get to shore."  The sun's last rays danced across the ocean waves as Larry and his angel of the sea glided along the surface of the water.  Little did they know that they were in for a big surprise.

            The next morning, as the early rays of light were stretching their fingers across the ocean, Larry noticed something that he had not seen in a long time.  He shouted, "Praise God! We've found land!"  The stingray sailed through the water as if it, too, were excited about finding land.  Larry could hardly contain himself as he continually shouted praises to God.  Then the moment came for the two to go their separate ways.  The giant stingray carefully slid out from underneath him, and headed back out to sea.  Unable to stand up fully, Larry slowly shuffled like an old man, one foot at a time, until he reached the sandy beach, where he collapsed from exhaustion.

Several hours later, someone was tapping his shoulder.  Where am I?  How did I get here?  As Larry slowly woke up, he realized, That's right, now I'm on solid land. I don't have to worry about sharks, and I'm not going to drown. Thank God I'm safe!  With swollen, burning eyes, he squinted to see a Coast Guard officer standing over him.  "Did you ... tap me ... on my shoulder?"  Larry asked drowsily.

"Yes, in your condition, you need to get the hospital quickly," the officer answered.

Larry said, "Great ... feel like I've been hit by a ... Mac truck.  If ... don't fall asleep again ...  I'll tell you ... about it ... on the way?"  Larry, too exhausted to talk any more, collapsed in a heap.

As it turned out, the few things he needed to be treated for were minor.  While he was waiting to be released, Larry could not stop thinking about his friend.  Lord, I want to find Dennis, but I'm going to depend on You to work out the details.

A few hours later, Fred the Coast Guard officer walked in and asked, "How are you doing, Larry?  When are you going to be released?"

"I'm doing fine, except for a few minor things." Larry weakly smiled. "The nurse said that it'll be another fifteen minutes.  Why do you ask?"

"On the way to the hospital, you kept calling out for Dennis and saying something about a boat.  Who is he and do you know where he is?  Chuck, one of the Coast Guard's helicopter pilots, is on standby just in case we need a helicopter to look for this Dennis guy."

With renewed strength, Larry briefly explained the situation.  As he finished, he let out a sigh of relief, "You are definitely an answer to my prayers.  I just hope we can find Dennis still alive."

Little did they know how true that statement was, for the sharks were closing in around Dennis.  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.  I only have a few seconds left. Then, it will be all over.  He securely wrapped his arms around his folded knees, bracing against the impending attack.  A loud thud and splash reverberated through his body as waves crashed over his head.  They must be getting close.  I hope it isn't slow and painful.  Then he heard another thud followed by clicks and squeaks.  I have to find out what that is.  Dennis cautiously peeked above the waves.  Out of nowhere, a sleek, grey dolphin leaped out of the water, then vanished.  A few seconds later, he heard another thump and splash.  Just then, he noticed a flurry of activity on his left.  When he raised his head to get a closer look, he noticed two dolphins ramming into something.  What are they doing?  Another dolphin shot out of the water directly in front of the two dolphins.  Dennis slowly turned his head first to his left, then to his right.  I'm surrounded by dolphins! How awesome! I wonder where the sharks are.  He was answered by a thunderous smack.  The waves rose up around a group of dolphins to his right, then came crashing down.  The dolphins had surrounded a shark about twice their size and were taking turns ramming into it.  With every blow, they pushed it farther away.  Finally, it had enough.  The shark's large dorsal fin grew smaller and smaller as it swam away.  I can't believe it. These dolphins have protected me from the sharks. They saved my life!  Marveling at the sight he beheld, he began shouting thanks to God, "Thank You so much! You sent me help! I now know You can do miracles!"  The dolphins squeaked and clicked at one another as they playfully leaped in and out of the water.  They seemed to be rejoicing that they had driven away the sharks.  Just then, Dennis heard a loud hum above the sound of the roaring waves and high-pitched dolphins.  What could that be?  He listened with anticipation as the sound grew louder and watched the sky for any sign of its source.  Gradually, he began to make out the form of a helicopter.  I can't believe my eyes. Could it possibly be help? Someone is actually looking for me!  The helicopter was now almost directly over him.  He mustered all his strength and yelled out, "Hey! Over here," but the only thing he heard was the load roar of the helicopter. 

"You better slow down, Chuck," the Coast Guard officer yelled above the roar of the helicopter. "I think I've spotted something. Larry, you've got to see this."

 Larry gingerly walked over to the open side door of the helicopter and looked down.  Far below them, about fifteen to twenty dolphins were jumping out of the water, making huge waves when they came back down.  In the middle of the circle they had formed, was a capsized boat rocking back and forth by the turbulent waves.

 "Hey, look over there," Fred shouted as he pointed toward a small figure next to the capsized boat. "Is that a person's head?" 

"I'm not sure, Fred. It's hard to tell, but that boat sure looks like ours," Larry replied.

Dennis's eyes burned and his whole body ached as he watched with growing apprehension the helicopter hover above him.  I sure hope they can see me.  It would be awful if they didn't.  A few seconds later, a man with a safety line jumped out of the helicopter.  Dennis sighed,  Thank God!  I'm finally going to be rescued.  I really thought I was going to die.  Before he knew it, he was being lifted up out of the water.

Once Dennis was safely inside the helicopter, he collapsed from total exhaustion.  He was unaware of the two men who bent over him.  It was not until he heard, "Hey, buddy, do you remember me?" that he slightly opened his red, puffy eyes.  It took a few moments for Dennis to realize that the smiling face looking down at him belonged to his friend Larry.  A weak smile broke across Dennis's face and a tear trickled down his sunburned cheek.  This precious moment only lasted a few minutes, before Dennis slipped away into a deep sleep. 

When Dennis woke up a few hours later, he was in a hospital room.  As he looked around the room, his eyes finally saw the faces of his family and friends.  They rushed over to him and began giving him hugs and telling him how happy they were to have him back.  He knew that now was the time to tell everyone about how God had sovereignly rescued him.  Dennis, with tears in his eyes, started his story by saying, "It's truly a miracle that I survived.  I used to criticize Larry for his faith in God, but now I know that he was right.  If I hadn't turned to God, I probably would have drowned."  Even though that was seventeen years ago, Dennis and Larry both vividly remember the two days they were stranded in the Pacific Ocean, and how God kept His promise of "I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you."

This story based on three true stories. Names have been changed and characters slightly modified from the original stories.