There’s a story that has been going around for years.
There’s a man, stranded in the middle of the ocean. He asks God for help. A tugboat goes by. The tugboat stops to offer him a ride. The man says, “no, thank you, I’m waiting for God.” Then a bigger boat, a sailboat, a cruise ship, a steamship. The boats get bigger and bigger, and still the man says, “no, thank you, I’m waiting for God.” The story ends with the man dying. He arrives at heaven, and he asks God why He didn’t save him. God looks at him, supposedly, and says “ I sent you the life boat, the sailboat, etc cruise ship. Why didn’t you take one of them?”
It is often used to demonstrate how we shouldn’t just “wait around” for God to help us. We will have to take something that’s offered to us that He has sent to save us.
I totally get that understanding. We cannot sit still and do nothing always, thinking that is what faith looks like. Faith often comes with action.
However, this takeaway to me, is troubling. Would God really look at that man and ask him why he didn’t take it? Or, perhaps, maybe God would look at the man and say, “Why didn’t you ask Me? Ask me what you should have done? Instead of supposing, did you try submitting your request for direction?”
Is it faith to take a lifeboat that’s offered, or not take it? I don’t know. It takes faith either way I suppose. Instead of defining faith by the choice, maybe the faith is defined by the questions. And who it is that you’re turning to when you have questions and need to decide.
Do you think, study, consider, turn your head, and say yes please or no thank you. Those are fine things. But is that all? Or do you close your eyes and turn your heart heavenward, and ask Him for the directions.
Faith is not defined by either going or staying, doing or not doing. Faith is not in a yes or a no. It is a heart condition that is looking to and trusting God, expecting that He’ll show up, and show you what to do and which way to go.
(And, I get it if you’ve grown up in “the church” and you’ve had experiences where you’ve felt overwhelmed and have hesitation for attempting to walk out the will and leading of God. Many of us have felt overwhelmed in this. But I would offer with suggestion. The problem is not the Holy Spirit. The problem is often in us, overthinking, overworking, overdoing things religiously. Trying too much, with the oughts and the shoulda and the checkboxes. We cry uncle eventually and prefer to go about a more normal earthly existence. But, if Holy Spirit lives in us, following Him should be as natural as breathing. I know it often doesn’t feel like that. But I’d opine that the problem has never been with God or Jesus or our helper, the Holy Spirit. It’s our interpretation, and “trying”. Maybe we should try a lot less and trust a bit more .)
Maybe we should revisit how we go about this whole ‘drifting in the ocean thing’.
(Which seems super appropriate, because it feels like we’re all all swimming in an ocean of options, opportunity to drown, and opinions.)
What way should we approach a life boat offer- should we take it or reject it? That’s entirely up to you and God. And if you care to wonder what He might eventually say, why not ask Him His opinion now?
Faith is not defined by either accepting or rejecting help or a lifeline. Radical faith is inviting God into all of the details. And not only inviting Him, expecting He’ll show up.
It’s trusting Him enough to know that He will help you when you ask Him, no matter how big or small the request. It’s trusting Him enough to know that He will help you when you need it, and answer you when you call. Not always exactly how you ask, but in whatever way He knows that you truly need. Faith is trusting His character enough to remember that He cares for you.
We don’t trust blindly, but from knowing Him. Knowing that He has our true best interest at heart. That He’ll show us whether or not to take the lifeboat, and that no matter any outcome, He’s got us. We’re anchored, attached, to His lifeboat. And no matter what, His love is bigger than that ocean. He will always take care of us. One way or another, if we ever get a little adrift, He will gently guide us back to Himself. We can trust our whole selves into His eternal, competent, loving hands.
Hey, new parents! You just welcomed your beautiful new baby!I was just washing dishes, thinking about this new life that youve welcomed, with my own kids running around in the next room, and was overcome by thoughts of it all. I guess seeing someone starting out this big, beautiful new journey will do that to you. I had to stop and write, and cry at the wonder of it all. I thought I’d share, if you’ll allow. Just a bit different this time.
Advice to you, now On having a baby.
The main advice: Stop listening to advice.
(Funny huh? I guess I could stop there, but let me try to explain.)
Look at that baby before you. Your child, this miracle, right before your very eyes. I don’t need to tell you that this tiny person is going to change everything. Right now, only hours in, you already know this.
Breathe into it, this new life, this precious gift and miracle. Breathe it in. And yes. Stop listening to advice.
Don’t get me wrong. You’ll give and get plenty of it over time. But listen, now, to this. Listen to what this gift is saying. What it is and what it will teach you.
They will teach you so much. This tiny person already has so much to bring to this world. Innate knowledge and wisdom, enthusiasm and joy. Your own kid will show you more than you will possibly ever teach them. Fresh from heaven, they will teach you about it. Earth, too. In fact, most surprisingly, they will teach you so much about yourself. (They already started didn’t they?)
Pay *close* attention, to all of these things.
We’re pretty good at turning kids into adults. But we’re maybe worse at other things- like slowing down and learning ourselves. We’re better it seems at slowly loosing bits of magic, ours and theirs. There is wonder and delight of knowing and becoming known, a joy of discovery. Don’t loose that. For both, for all, of your sakes.
They already came with, so much, wired in a certain way, ways that have nothing to do with nurture. The way they just arrived, how they scrunch their face or open their eyes or wail and cry. You are already discovering this, bits and pieces, clues of what they have to give and who they are already. Before your very eyes, these miracles begin to unfold. You’ll find it things they enjoy and dislike , things that move them, motivate them. Later still, the Mountains they are already destined to climb.
Listen with your heart as you watch them. Then when they ask for directions, with newborn baby cries or teenage angst, you’ll better know how to answer, based on what you’re learning about them and this life. Now it’s snuggles, soon it will be other things, unfolding.
Their path will be theirs to discover. *They* are yours to discover -as they discover it themselves, and the world around them. This path they were set upon, starting here in your arms, today. It will be a good one. It will be hard and beautiful, much like yours, only different.
Their trip isn’t yours. I mean, you’ll drive for a while. Some years you’ll drive a lot. From doctors visits in baby car seats to baseball and first days of school. Eventually one of you will drive away, for “good” (but don’t worry, not forever.)
Because with the start of their path, your own new one starts too. You have your path as parent. The paths be different and separate. They are connected, and for a while, both will intertwine so intimately it will be hard to unravel. Inexplicable they will change and unravel, but forever be tied together with love.
Mom and Dad., you were born for this, too. Right here, right now, this very moment, you were born to be this child’s parent. This path was meant for all of you Enjoy your front row seat.
Remember the only advice intended today: Don’t worry so much the advice. Learn by watching, listening and loving them. They will teach you everything you need to know, if you’re paying attention. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice but don’t start there. Always first listen, to the hearts of the people on the path.
Yours, theirs, and God’s. He’s right there with you all.
Your prayers are not wishes. Your weapons not metal or swords They’re the word of the Lord They’re true Jesus lives in you Cmon church, rise up Come out of your slumber Get down on your knees. Your weapons are not just words It’s my spirit living in you
Your time is now Raise your voice Lift a shout They battle’s begun, We call alive, every one
You’re a valley of bones Come alive in your skin Be no longer troubled With the weight of your sin I have made you free Walk no more in chains
Come alive, come alive Come alive again
The world needs that light. I gave it to you You can no longer hide it, No more, that is true
without malice or strife. “Do I look like I hold a grudge?”
Your words are so light and do true,
not a worry or care. no drip of shame.
My mind instantly sees the cross,
where you bore it all,
said it was done.
That says it all,
then I turn to you now. In the water,
so true,
Deep and blue.
Now the fun has begun,
there’s no sacrilege
You’re adventure and Love
Yes you don’t hold a grudge.
You came so I could really live.
Free as a bird, swimming deep in an ocean,
more good than I know.
But I’m diving right in.
“Tell your kids about me. Teach them to swim. Generations have been wading. It’s time to go deeper. Now won’t you come right in. Come deep in my ocean.
Hey, I'm Courtney, a pretty ordinary girl who thinks we've all been called to an extraordinary life and love story with God. I'm passionate about family, faith, motherhood, and the adventure of every day. I write lots of words, mostly because I can’t help it- and I think it's one of the things I was born to do. I hope that something I write encourages you, to walk in your own unique purpose and calling, set free to love and give it away, starting wherever you are today. That's what Courting the Extraordinary is all about. Finding the good all around you, and giving it away. Finding, too, the God of all goodness who wants to walk with you.
I love quiet mornings, coffee, prayer and “work” before sunrise. Quality time with my family is my jam. I can be found grinning ear to ear when we're out on an adventure. Whether that's in our own backyard or exploring someplace new all-together, I’ll for sure note something beautiful about nature aloud-and maybe repeatedly, ha!. Life is a beautiful, precious gift, and an adventurous path to travel! We might as well learn how to love.
Hey, I'm Courtney, a pretty ordinary girl who thinks we've all been called to an extraordinary life and love story with God. I'm passionate about family, faith, motherhood, and the adventure of every day. I write lots of words, mostly because I can’t help it- and I think it's one of the things I was born to do. I hope that something I write encourages you, to walk in your own unique purpose and calling, set free to love and give it away, starting wherever you are today. That's what Courting the Extraordinary is all about. Finding the good all around you, and giving it away. Finding, too, the God of all goodness who wants to walk with you.
I love quiet mornings, coffee, prayer and “work” before sunrise. Quality time with my family is my jam. I can be found grinning ear to ear when we're out on an adventure. Whether that's in our own backyard or exploring someplace new all-together, I’ll for sure note something beautiful about nature aloud-and maybe repeatedly, ha!. Life is a beautiful, precious gift, and an adventurous path to travel! We might as well learn how to love.