It was a sunny Saturday – a day where Saturday-morning-cartoons
have lost it’s novelty but instead, a day that brought a new purpose of restoration.
It was a weekend where nothing else occupied my thoughts except for spending
and enjoying my hours with fellow brothers and sisters. As the warmth of the
sun embraced me, I then cheerfully transferred that energy of excitement into
taking ownership of a selected kayak and rushing into the open waters.
With laughter, joy and even insecurities of the sea soon
filled the air, you can’t help but feel a sense of healthy competition rising
to the occasion to be the first to arrive at “Point B”.
As I travelled amoung friends - some were ahead of me, some
were behind me but most comforting of all was that some were right beside me.
For the ones with me, we paddled to keep up and to reach that common goal which
faired to be attainable yet so far.
Soon enough, as things appeared to be stable, secure and
fun, a speedboat made its dreadful appearance and sent gradually horrific shock
waves into our path and tossing us into a frantic frenzy. With such an abrupt
change, we naturally fought back paddling harder and determined to overcome the
waves with all the strength we had in our dwindling arms. To a certain extent,
we were able to maintain our course, with the rawness of our manhood and even
that, being at stake; but found ourselves quickly battered and tired from the
“storm”. With most of my energy drained from the one-sided fight, I had nothing
left but to revert to placing my focus on “Point B” and maintaining a steady
pace. It was THEN, that I realized, and to my surprise, the journey, even with
the beating waves, becoming more tolerable as I didn’t allow the waves to
greatly affect me but instead, to embrace it.
It was through this experience that God impressed in my
heart that such is life.
Many a times where life gets you down with disappointments,
unexpected circumstances and simply times where you just can’t find any good. We,
then, naturally allow the “storm” to affect us and want to fight harder, either
in the form of worry, anxiety, stress and essentially wanting to take full
control of it. Let us not lose focus on what is important… and that is reaching
“Point B” – to seek God’s kingdom and grace. Once we truly place our focus on
God, He will transform us to be able to understand what He sees is best and not
what WE think is best.
This immediately reminded me of when Jesus calmed the storm.
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the
boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord,
save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you
so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was
completely calm.” (Matthew 8:23-26) (NIV)
Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance
about what we do not see. As I rested and placed my confidence and focus on
“Point B” / towards God, I was able to “stand firm” and brace the storm and it
is THEN that we will find peace. Even in the midst of a storm, we will still be
able to appreciate the NOW and not stress and lose sight on what God is
revealing to us through what is currently happening.
With family and friends, either ahead, behind or with us,
let us continue to support one another and journey on together with FAITH that
Jesus will supply His perfect plan for us in His perfect timing!
In life, whatever our circumstances are, we can choose to
fight our own battles but will soon grow tired and weary. We can only go as far
as our strength allows but through God and His limitless power and everlasting
love, we can go as far as He allows – and that’s pretty darn FAR! So let us
enter God’s rest with a steady stride through the waves of life, continuing to
seek His face and allow Him to direct our paths in the midst of any storm – it
will come to pass, lets not stress about it! (Easier said than done BUT so much
is true.)
