“Start again” was the whisper I heard clearly in my heart

I knew it was God speaking to me at the conference I was attending

I knew He wanted me to set sail on a new adventure

But to be quite honest

I’d had enough of trying to “set sail”  

I was over trying to navigate my way through the storm-driven seas

The “wind in my sails” had been knocked out long ago

With every monstrous wave crashing against my hull

The fierce winds increasing every time I’d start again

Capsizing my little boat, which felt exposed and afloat

Drifting toward nowhere, my mind in turmoil

And my body fatigued from the thought of starting over again

START AGAIN

I felt like I was in survival mode

Trying to fix up my broken mast and torn sails

In a desperate bid to find a safe harbour

Adrift in my battered little boat

I really didn’t want to “start again” thank you very much, God

Because every time I had started something

And opened up my sails ready for the adventure

I’d been washed sideways with the heavy rain and debris

That came with the horizontal hail storms

Crashing my little boat into the jagged rocks and boulders

That had taken out so many other sailors before me

SET SAIL ON A NEW ADVENTURE

So, that was that

I was done

“Go find another sailor to set sail on a new adventure, God,” I whispered back

And then it all changed

A woman at the conference read out a Scripture

Hosea 2:14-15

“And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt” (The Message Bible)

I was completely undone

The promise God had given me when I was a young girl

Started to dance around inside my mind

God knew of my Heartbreak Valley

But now He was promising to turn it into Acres of Hope

Was I going to let my little boat sink?

Or was I going to find the determination and innovation

To continue sailing towards my promise?

As I re-read Hosea 2:14-15, I felt God mending my torn and tattered sails

I rested as He got to work with fixing up my broken mast

From the huge waves that had hit me like a freight train over the years

In the surrender, He restored me

But now, I was no longer a little broken sail boat, drifting out to sea

Now, I was a strong merchant ship, ready to set sail for a new adventure

And God, not me, was my Captain

Dear friend, I can see your little boat too

It’s been ravaged by the heavy rain and violent storms

Your beautiful paintwork is now blistered and peeling

From being exposed to the elements over the years

The tempest that threatened to take you out

Has knocked the wind out of your sails

But know this

GOD NEVER LEFT YOU

Not in the storm. Not in the darkness. Not while you went adrift.

He knew that the conditions were rough

And it’s remarkable that you’ve made the journey this far in your broken, little boat

Believe it or not, God kept you safe in the hurricane

He was your anchor in the storm

Like me, you’ve become lost at sea

And not sure on your exact location

But if you let God become the Captain of your little boat

He’ll turn you into a grand merchant ship

Which will carry the precious cargo of God’s love

To help other vessels which are lost at sea and adrift

He’s putting the wind back into your sails, dear friend

Because He loves adventures with you

All you have to do is let God become your Captain

 

Wendy xo