Why is that we always hear metaphors for the Christian walk that have to do with sailing and waves and water?
I was going through one of my worship playlists, and I realized how many times words like “sink” or “ocean” or “tide” showed up in the titles and lyrics. So, I started to think about this whole aquatic theme in worship music. Then I realized: it’s all in the bible, too. I mean, Jonah got swallowed by a whale and Peter walked on water, right?
It reminded me of a quote that I always liked by John Shedd –
“A ship is safe in its harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
So, Jonah snuck on a ship, and this massive storm came and threatened to destroy the ship. Jonah told the crew to throw him overboard and they did so to save the ship and their lives. My boy Jonah was in a bit of a predicament. This is obviously the opposite of a safe situation. You’ve probably had a bad day before, but I think this is probably one of the worst. Just when he thinks it cannot get any worse, (at least that’s what I would be thinking) this huge whale swallows him whole. I don’t know about you, but my idea of a safe haven is not the belly of a fish. There is no way he had any room, and honestly I have a hard time with the leg room on airplanes, so props to you Jonah.
And then there’s Peter. We all know the story of Peter walking on water. How he got scared when the wind began to pick up and needed Jesus to save him after he stepped out of the boat.
What’s so daunting to me is how big the ocean is. It is powerful and unpredictable and mysterious. It’s a lot like Jesus to me. I think these writers talk about the ocean so much, because we can learn a little bit about Jesus when we think of the ocean. It can swallow ships whole, show you the depths of the earth, and create waves huge enough to destroy buildings and cities. But the ocean also creates waves that sooth me when I need to sleep; it cools me off when I’m hot on the beach; and it provides food for people who rely on its resources. It is huge and magnificent, yet up close and extremely personal. So is Jesus.
“You called me out beyond the shore into the waves” – You make me brave – Amanda Cook
“If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking” – How he loves – John Mark MacMillan
And this song you’ve probably never heard (that’s a joke guys) –
“You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where my feet may fail”
…
“And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise”
…
“Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me”
I do this thing where I leave my harbor because I know I should, but I stay in my boat because it’s comfortable. I don’t allow myself to stand in the faith that I have in my Jesus or to sink the waves of His mercy that will cover me always. I try to ride the waves in a lifeboat, never trusting God to hold me up should I take a step onto the water. My obsession with safety and comfort continues out past the harbor, because despite my best efforts, I can’t run from this inability to wholly trust in the plan that God has for me.
I do not want to have to depend on Jesus, even though I know He provides EVERYTHING and so much more. I get a picture in my head of what I think a solution will look like, and when God doesn’t answer in that way, at the time I planned, I doubt he’ll show up. Every single time that this happens, I get wrecked, because I so easily forget his faithfulness. I am Peter, because I step out to walk on this never ending, overly abundant, unconditional love, then I take my eyes off the One who gave it to me. I am Jonah, because I am selfish and refuse to die to myself. So again God must wreck me to remind me that I am incapable of saving myself.
So here I am, taking a step out onto the ocean and stepping out of my Jonah-fish. I’m not there yet, but I am trusting in the One who is bringing me there one step at a time. In an imperfect attempt to step out of my lifeboat, I am keeping my eyes on the Guy that gave me scandalously sweet redemption. Though me steps may falter and my voice my shake, I am moving in and to this plan that God has for me. The waves are still huge and the depths are still great, but with each step out of the boat, these things shrink in comparison to my God.
