Skip to main content

I loved the sea

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

Previous Next

'I loved the sea. So, from school I went straight to naval college and, when I was 17, I was on board the British Vigilance.

She was a tanker taking 10,000 tonnes of aviation fluid to Malta. We were ten miles off Gibraltar when we were torpedoed. The flames were coming up the side of the ship and so I jumped.

I found myself in the water with two men who couldn’t swim. They grabbed hold of me. We were surrounded by acres of burning petrol. I was able to help them, grabbing hold of an oar. We had to paddle around to avoid being burned.

Prior to this, I’d attended church in Liverpool and the Bible verses Isaiah 43.1-3 were the basis of the sermon. “Fear not, when you pass through the waters I will be with you…When you go through the fire you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze."

It was dark. All around me was burning petrol. I sent up a prayer for God to rescue us. Three or four hours later we were rescued.

These verses went through my mind, it was a wonderful sense. I just thanked God, because these verses were true. What was even more touching was that, when I returned to my home, these were the verses that were preached about at church. These verses gave me the realisation that God was with me. That has sustained me ever since.'

Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]

More Stories

I was about 19. Somebody had given me a book about people’s testimonies.

I was about 19. Somebody had given me a book about people’s testimonies. All of them had talked about the Holy Spirit coming into their lives and the difference that it made. I didn’t know how the Holy Spirit came into...

My dad died when I was 19

My dad died when I was 19. He got ill the week I went to uni and died the week after the first year. It was crazy. You don’t think you’re going to be in that situation.

I love the psalms and particularly Psalm 121

‘I love the psalms and particularly Psalm 121.1 which says, “I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.”

I had some dark times in my life when I lacked certainty

I had some dark times in my life when I lacked certainty and John 6.37 gave me the thought that I didn’t have to be perfect. I realised that, lo and behold, I wasn’t perfect.

I went through a period in the pandemic of quite poor mental health

I went through a period in the pandemic of quite poor mental health. I had previously been diagnosed with OCD and general anxiety. They were well-managed, but in the job I was in and with things at home, I became quite poorly...

Yesterday, I became aware that I wasn’t really trusting God and his promises

Yesterday, I became aware that I wasn’t really trusting God and his promises. It’s the everyday things that preoccupy me: financial worries, an elderly mother.

Want to share how the Bible has impacted your life? Email [email protected]

Read the Bible icon Read the Bible