There are moments in life when the forces around you are so powerful, so immense that you fear for your survival. These may be dangerous forces of nature, mental forces churning in your mind, or even spiritual forces that leave you in despair. Common words of foundering include “cancer,†“hopelessness,†“divorce,†“bankruptcy,†“infertility,†and “unemployment.†Hearing these words is like being caught on a ship in the midst of a raging storm. You are beyond rescuing yourself. How are you to be saved?
When All Appears Lost
Positive thinking, perhaps a savior in the past, will no longer work now that you are in the grips of fear and are no longer in control of your thoughts.
Are there items onboard that contribute to the precarious nature of your ship? They must be tossed overboard. Consider all that is not secured and tossing about widely, ready to damage the ship or you; insecurities, false beliefs, failed efforts.
When all seems to be lost, compel your mind, heart, and muscles to believe—beyond reason—that you can be rescued, that you will survive. How are you to do this?
Embrace Powerful Examples of Survival
One of the greatest survival stories that touch body, mind, and soul is that of Paul’s journey to Rome (in Acts 27) through a storm-ravaged Mediterranean Sea. The sailors could not get their bearings, the ship was being battered, hope was lost, and there were thoughts of abandoning ship.
Through this all, Paul stood steadfast in his faith in God, having received an angelic message that all would be saved. Paul offered encouragement and foreknowledge to what would occur. The ship ran aground, was pounded to pieces, but all survived.
Our Doom Is Not Sealed
We all, at some time in our life, are a foundering ship in need of rescue. In dire times like this, our great, dominating fear is death in its various forms: there is physical death—ours or loved ones; death of life’s hopes and dreams; death of a meaningful life. We fear being drowned in self-pity or bashed onto the rocks of failure. We cannot rescue ourselves. But—and this is a great BUT— our doom is not sealed, for with God we have the promise that death in any form need not be feared—it may be redeemed.
“And he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.â€
(Mark 4:39 KJV)
What is this calm? It is a different life but a renewed life. It is a different dream but a compelling dream. Where is this calm? It resides within.
We have a God that creates new life out of shipwreck. Weigh the anchor of fear and doubt and trust yourself to the captain of your soul.
Photo by Matt Hardy on Unsplash
