You Can Trust In God’s Course Correction Through the Storms of Life

Sailing fascinates me.

Don’t get me wrong; I know very little about it. My daughter and I took a lesson once on a daysailer. I remember being thrilled and also on extreme high alert. It was absolutely necessary for us to be sure we were paying attention, mostly to get out of the way of the skipper and the mast, which is the vertical pole that supports the sails.

The skipper allowed us to handle the sails so we could begin to understand how the sailboat moves. Being on a vessel that size allowed us to experience the work that went into what, from land, seemed like all smooth sailing.

There were also moments when the vessel seemed to be sailing itself. I later learned that there are many expressions sailors use for that exhilarating experience. One expression, “the boat is talking to you,” is the idea that the captain or crew are so completely attuned to the wind, waves, and vessel design that it all seems effortless. What if we lived our lives so attuned to the ways that God is at work around us?

As I searched my phone for photos of sailboats to share with you, I realized I’ve taken over 80 photos of boats while on various trips. While this may be a problem for me to address at another time 🙂, the point I am looking to make here is that I really do believe sailboats are the most graceful and beautiful vessels. I will share some of my favorite photos with you and hope that going forward, whenever you see a sailboat, you remember this devo.

Last week, I spoke with a dear friend about a ministry dream God has given her. She is already taking steps toward that dream, but she does not yet see a clear roadmap for how the overall dream will unfold. That conversation reminded me that I once heard an expression that “it’s easier to steer a moving ship,” and it got me thinking about our faith journey.

Has confusion about what God was calling you to next ever paralyzed you? There is no need to stop being faithful and doing what we know God desires of us: loving like He loves, forgiving like He commands us to forgive, and using our gifts to serve those around us. Like sailors who adjust the sails, avoid sailing directly into the wind, and course correct, we may take steps to do the next right things and keep moving, trusting that God will course correct us along the way. What’s the next right step that will help us along the journey?

Our response to the winds and the waves in our lives has some parallels to sailing. We can adjust the areas of our lives that we can control while looking for God’s Holy Spirit to be the wind that empowers us and moves us toward our call. We can abide in Him and trust Him to lead us, and sometimes we even get to enjoy moments of smooth sailing.

A friend once invited me on a catamaran. Halfway to the destination, we heard the Captain announce, “The engines are off,” and everyone on board cheered. Ah, I will never forget the experience! The warm ocean wind, the powerful waves, and the beauty of the vessel, truly breathtaking. Freedom. Joy. I was overcome with gratefulness. Is that what we experience when we turn the engines off (and stop trying to control our circumstances) and allow God’s Spirit to guide us?

I desire to please God with my response to circumstances in my life. Sometimes I fail to trim the sails or bear away slightly (it’s easier for me to use sailing terms versus real-life examples – ha!). But He is teaching me that just as sailing has so much to do with balance, grace, and paying attention, so does my spiritual life. We must pay attention to what God is doing in our lives, how He is leading and guiding, and also find balance in how we adjust our sails.

There may be times we get it wrong, but how wonderful it is to know that He is ultimately in control. His grace for our mistakes is greater than we can fully understand. Let’s aim to be vessels that are in motion and easier for God to course correct. He loves us just that much. Whether we are surrounded by perfect conditions or treacherous storms, He will never fail us. Never. The journey may not be as we expected, but if we are cooperating with God and allowing Him to lead, He will use us for His purpose and plan.

Engines OFF, friends!

Matthew 8:26-27: “Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?'”

Psalm 107:28–29: “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”

Psalm 93:4: “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!”

Ephesians 4:14: “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

John 3:8: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”