“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.”1
Cruising is an increasingly popular pastime for those to whom it is accessible and affordable. In keeping with the spirit of rest, relaxation, and merry-making, cruise ships often travel to exotic places, enabling the thrills of spectacular scenery and other breathtaking imagery. These vessels provide a rich array of luxurious indulgences and entertainment. Their sole purpose seems to be to furnish the vacationers they transport with a sublime recreational experience such that their loyalty and repeated patronage are secured. Ships like these, while fully capable and equipped to cater to their target clientele, possess diminished physical and mechanical strength, agility, and capacity compared to their counterpart ocean liners.
In my mind, cruise ships represent an ideal life. As their name suggests, they transport their passengers through life at an idyllic pace, enjoying various sights, sounds, and scents within the ship and in the wonders of nature. These ships offer ongoing festivities and little to no challenges, cruising from one port of life to another, never having to settle in a solitary destination for any reasonable length of time. Brilliant skies, warm weather, sensational thrills, and tepid terrains mark their carefully chosen routes. Cloudy skies, volatile storms, and other inclement weather are for them, intrigues found in riveting novels, action movies, reality shows, and other alternate realities. Their lives are on a chartered course to the safe seas of comfort and ease, their chief challenges being the minor inconveniences and shifts caused by the gentle rocking of their boat.
Many of us would like to cruise along the pleasantries described above, predictably living on a chartered course marked by few difficulties. We would rather sail through life unhindered, unbothered, and unchallenged, never having to face our fears, shortcomings, or limitations, always possessing a seamless system to propel us forward with little effort on our part. This does not necessarily imply laziness or an aversion to hard work; it just means we would rather have our ideal life offered to us on a platter of gold than go through the arduous process of growth and character development, both of which are the qualifiers and sustainers of destiny.2 Life constantly offers a choice between the familiar and the unfamiliar, the convenient and the inconvenient, the comfortable and the terrifying, the safe and the risky.
Cruising through life as described and depicted above, while wonderful and certainly beneficial for short-term relaxation and rejuvenation, is unrealistic and nonexistent for those who have lived any appreciable number of years. Little children may enjoy this luxury for a season, but it does not take much for anyone with a developed enough mind to realize that life is not all a walk in the park. It is a constant navigation of the odd twists and turns, ups and downs, hurdles and labyrinths of the woods, and for the believer in Jesus, an assured guarantee of a glorious destination on the other side of the maze, both here on earth and eternally. This fact is in no way intended to discourage or dampen one’s spirits, but to cheer you on to conquest despite the stark realities of our world.
God promises overwhelming victory3 to those who put their faith and trust in Him through a relationship with Jesus Christ4, and who actively submit to His ways.5 He never said that life would be without troubles and challenges, indeed, He warns of quite the opposite6 but promises His presence7 and superlative success8 despite them. This knowledge should bolster our faith into desiring and living beyond our comfort zones in the glorious spaces and terrains God has for us!
It therefore behooves us to dare the unthinkable and attempt the impossible. It is only those who are God-inspired to leave the comfort zones of the familiar and predictable to sail into the deep waters of the unchartered and unpredictable that experience God’s magnificent wonders in the deep! No one ever experiences anything spectacular or of lasting value in the shallows; anyone who wants to experience the best of God and life must do so in the deep waters of faith-directed adventures. This is exactly what Abraham, Moses, Noah, Esther, Ruth, Mary, and a host of other Bible heroes did when they obeyed God’s call to leave where they were to where He directed them and to do things that were unusual or seemingly illogical.9
Friend, are you lingering in the safe harbors and terrains of life, satisfied with the mediocre and the mundane? Have you responded to God’s call to traverse the tumultuous but deeply fulfilling waters of destiny? Have you loosened your grip on the safe spaces, comforts, and pacifiers you have held so tightly, venturing in obedience into the seemingly unpredictable and untraveled exploits ahead? If so, you WILL experience the progressive attainment of destiny, unspeakable joy, and unsurpassed, indescribable satisfaction – God guaranteed!
… So He guides them to their desired haven!10
**For questions on how to get to know God personally, grow in your relationship with Him, or for any other inquiries, please email: [email protected]**
Bibliography
- Psalm 107:23-24 ↩︎
- 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 5:3-5; 8:18; 1 Peter 1:6-8; 5:10; James 1:3-4; 12; Hebrews 12:10-11 ↩︎
- Romans 8:37-38 (see 31-38 for proper context); 2 Corinthians 2:14; Psalm 118:10-18 ↩︎
- John 1:12; 3:36; 5:24; 6:40 & 47; 14:6; Acts 2:21; 4:12; Romans 10:13; 1 John 5:11-13 ↩︎
- Isaiah 64:3-5; Psalm 25:4-12; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 9:23-24 ↩︎
- John 16:33; Psalm 23:4, 27:2-3; 46:2-3; 118:13; Genesis 3:17-19 ↩︎
- Hebrews 13:7; Psalms 27:1; 46:1; Hebrews 13:5-6; Deuteronomy 31:6-8 ↩︎
- Romans 8:37-38 (see 31-38 for proper context); 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 15:7; 1 John 4:4; 5:4-5; Revelation 12:11; Psalm 1:3; 118:10-18; Joshua 1:8. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
- Genesis 12:1-8; Hebrews 11:4-40 ↩︎
- Psalm 107:30 ↩︎