Unconscious competent or conscious incompetent (conclusion)

We all settled into a circle on our knees on the bow. We took turns and performed all the skills but one. I had no problems with any of them but mask removal was the final skill. As each person took their turn my heart was racing. I hadn’t decided if I would even go through with it or would I shake my head no and fail the course. That really wasn’t an option but it did cross my mind. Then came my turn and this is where the story gets a bit strange. Even though I was nervous and I knew now if I breathed in water I couldn’t bolt for the surface from 70ft like I did in the pool. If I did that now, at two atmospheres of pressure the compressed air in my lungs would expand faster than it could get out and could blow a hole in my lungs. Even though I knew that a strange calm descended over me and I was able to remove my mask, breathe, replace and clear it slowly and confidently. I remember being so calm that I actually took longer than I needed to replace my mask and clear it. It was a great feeling.

Now someone may argue that there is some subconscious self-preservation instinct that took over, sure maybe like the mammalian dive reflex, but that doesn’t explain the calm I felt before. To me it was nothing less than a miracle and although it makes me extremely uncomfortable I’ve found in my experience that God delivers what I need precisely at the moment I need it. When I operate on my own strength and don’t ask Him for help I usually figure it out too late.
An unconscious competent can handle a particular situation on their own strength, a conscious incompetent is aware he or she can’t handle it on their own strength. The key for the people in the latter group is to rely on and have faith in God’s strength.

I’m definitely a conscious incompetent

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Phillipians 4:13

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me – 2 Corinthians 12:9