What Is It About Old Boats?
Written By: Chris Mace
What is it about craggy faces, calloused hands, weathered skin, and old boats with their nicks, dings, and scraps?
There is something encouraging about old “things” and old people who are time worn but have weathered well, are scarred but toughened, tried but persistent, tested but enduring.
Sometimes faith seems like that! Like an old boat –
battered by opposing tides and stormy seas; burdened under heavy thoughts, unnecessary wants, exaggerated desires, and just “stuff”; struggling against adverse cultural currents; swamped, gunnels low in choppy waters of anxiety, doubt, and fear; scraping on shallow, rocky bottoms of futility, disappointment, and failure; yet, confidently guided by the strength and hands of its owner through the chop and impenetrable fog heading for a sure, secure destination.
Faith journeys deep into the deep. Like old skiffs, it bump rocks and shoals-returning battered to sheltered, calm waters, bailed out, unburdened, somehow more complete, strong, ready, and steady, confident, waiting, prepared for the oar locks, the oarsman, and the next destination
Greying hair. trembling hands, and creeping fragility may assail believers but scripture comforts with the truth that “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:3-5 (NLT2)
and that “the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James1:2)
That kind of trust makes it possible to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer“ when “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…(Romans 12:12)(Colossians 1:11)