But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea driven and tossed by the wind. ( James 1:6 NKJV)
About midway
through our Lake Michigan boat trek, I had a bout with doubt.
We left Rock
Island early to cross the wavy sea to make our way to Escanaba, a small town on
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The waves tossed us to and fro, as we were
travelling in a beam sea, which means the waves push your vessel from the side.
Nice rocking motion if you want to put a baby to sleep, or get seasick.
I tried to fight
the motion sickness, and Les offered me the remedy; drive the boat. But even
taking the helm was difficult today, because at first I had nothing on the
horizon to focus on. I had to go on faith, trusting the computer chart to
direct me. I wanted to quit driving, but I knew the alternative would be worse,
headache with nausea all day.
I had to roll with
the waves, and trust the unmarked route. I had to rely on the tried and
tested navigation aids that would get us through this turbulent sea. Several minutes into the rocking and the
rolling, I spotted a stationary object on the horizon. Just the focal point I
needed to persevere on the path.
This light stands out
on the middle of the lake far from the shore. It marks an underwater shoal, a
natural rock wall that can cause damage to a ship. Before this adventure, I
didn’t even know that these lights existed on Lake Michigan.
This person of
faith may know her destination, but at times when nothing is on the horizon,
doubts buffet me like the waves of a beam sea on a vessel crossing the water.
Thanks be to God
for putting unexpected markers along the route to realign my faith in Him, and
lead me to the ultimate destination—forever with HIM!
Yessirree ....I have fallen into a bout with doubt a time or too! Amazing what happens if we just believe....
ReplyDeleteI so get this, I need something to focus on as well. The hardest times in my life are when I feel like I don't have a direct path, like I'm wandering aimlessly. I need God to give me a vision for what He wants me to be doing, or else doubt starts pelting away at me.Lovely post! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great metaphor for doubt and faith, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. Thank you for the gift of your words here. They pulse with the heart of Christ.
ReplyDelete