Chapter 7

“Are you serious right now?”

I turn to see him grinning at me, eyebrows raised with mock surprise. 

It pulls me up short.  Because, of course, he’s right.  After all of these many days and miles of traveling at the mercy of the wind and waves, it is completely ridiculous to try to exert control over my circumstances now.

— — —

We had woken up this morning to a gorgeous view of land.  White, sandy beaches, with rolling hills beyond.  Small homes dotting the landscape, with smoke curling lazily from their chimneys.  In the chill of dawn, it was a most inviting picture.  And I could feel my body straining toward shore, willing the boat to move faster.

Until it became obvious that we were moving diagonally toward a much more rugged shoreline, where the waves crashed crazily against the rocks jutting out into the water.

One minute I was gripping the edge of the boat and the next frantically attempting to use my hands to doggy-paddle us back toward the gentle shores.  It was purely instinctual.  A life or death struggle against the waves.

— — —

With a playful smile spreading across his face, he slowly and deliberately lies down in the bottom of the boat.  Repositioning himself toward one side, so that there is space for me to lie down beside him.  All the while his expression daring me to follow his lead.

But it isn’t really much of a decision.  Paddling the boat to shore is impossible.  The current is strong enough that even a boatful of expert rowers would be fighting a losing battle against it.  Jumping into the water in an attempt to swim to shore from this distance would mean certain death.  And the prospect of watching the boat racing toward its destruction on the rocks seems needlessly masochistic.

So I stretch out alongside him, positioning myself comfortably in the crook of his arm.

Reflection Questions:

When have you seen yourself take one step forward, two steps back in your faith journey?

What do you need to remember about God’s past faithfulness in order to trust Him in your present circumstances?