People's Boats Are Sinking, But Yours Will Safely Reach the Shore!
Uncover God's Power and Promise to Bring ALL Your Boats Safely to Shore In A World Where Many Are Sinking
The RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster.
Though not always on the same scale as the Titanic, people experience their own shipwrecks on the sea of life every day. From physical accidents on our roads, railways, seas, and skies to deteriorating health, wayward children, collapsing marriages, failed businesses, unfulfilled careers, and struggling ministries, many face their own Titanic moments.
Dreams, visions, and goals are constantly being frustrated. Not everyone who sets out with a destination in mind arrives there. It is heartbreaking. Yet, I have discovered that it is possible to journey through life and reach your destination safely.
You Can Sail Through Successfully
You don’t have to sink or crash. You can be exempted from the tragic experiences of those who are sinking daily on life's stormy seas. You don't have to be a victim.
Perhaps you are currently anxious, wondering if you will succeed or see your dream through to completion. Maybe you are uncertain about graduating, finishing that project, or overcoming the challenges before you. Listen, it is possible to land safely. Yes, despite the flood of bad news and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles around you, you can sail through life successfully and arrive at your desired destination—whole and victorious.
Why Are Boats Sinking? Why Are So Many Having Titanic Moments?
Two reasons come to mind;
Blessings/Breakthroughs From God
Do you remember how Peter and his partners toiled all night by the lake of Gennesaret but caught nothing? They were preparing to call it a day, washing their nets, when Jesus showed up and gave them an instruction that would turn their situation around.
At first, Peter was reluctant because Jesus’ instruction seemed unusual—no one fished during the day. Yet, he chose to obey and let down his net.
“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” —Luke 5:6-7
Why were the boats sinking? Why was the net breaking? Simply because they obeyed an instruction from Jesus.
A breakthrough from Jesus was so overwhelming that their nets began to tear and their boats started sinking. God’s blessing was almost too much to handle! Now, imagine if Peter and his partners had actually sunk because of the breakthrough that came from Jesus' word.
Many boats are sinking today because of the blessings they have received from God. It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about how they’ve been sinking spiritually since they got married or started a new job. There are people whose marriages are now sinking because of the demands of their careers. They no longer have time for their spouses or children. It was a breakthrough from God, but this breakthrough is now taking a toll on their marriages.
A brother has lost his passion for God since he got the new job. He still attends church, but he knows he’s lost his spiritual vitality. He is now too busy to spend quality time with God. There are men who no longer find their wives beautiful because they now have a lot of money. The student loved God before the admission or scholarship came, but this breakthrough has become the reason she is sinking in worldliness.
As small as a smartphone is, it can become the reason you begin to sink. When you didn’t have a smartphone, you weren’t addicted to social media or the internet. There was no temptation to watch ungodly movies. But now, the breakthrough has come, and you’re sinking. You waste your precious time and resources on the phone; you spend more time with your phone than with God, consuming ungodly content. The phone that was meant to be a tool has now become a toy—a trap.
The Storms/Challenges of Life
The challenges of life can also sink a man's boat. Scripture is filled with stories of people whose boats nearly sank because of storms. The wind raged against them, trying to prevent them from reaching their destination. But storms or life challenges can be a result of two things;
I. Disobedience.
Your boat may be faced with storms because you are living in disobedience. There is an instruction from God that you have not obeyed and God decided to allow the storm to redirect you to His will.
One example is Jonah, who was headed to Tarshish in disobedience to God's will. God used a storm to redirect him to where he was supposed to go. Jonah eventually arrived at his destination—once he chose to do God's will.
If your boat will ever get to the shore, you need to repent and realign yourself with God's will. Go and do what God has been asking you to do.
II. Obedience
Disobedience is not the only reason you may experience a storm that threatens your boat, your storm may be because you have chosen to obey God and the enemy is not happy.
The disciples of Jesus faced a storm at sea—even though it was Jesus Himself who had commanded them to make the trip. The Bible says:
“But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:24)
But the good news is:
“Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” (John 6:21)
If your storms or challenges are products of an obedience to the Word of God, be assured that God will not leave you in the storm. He will come to your rescue. He will not allow you to sink. He came to the rescue of Peter when he was about to sink. He restored the fortunes of Job. Yours will not be an exception. Your boats will safely reach the shore.
All Your Boats Will Reach the Shore
In the case of Peter and his partners, the Bible tells us that they brought their boats to land. In other words, they didn’t sink in the sea as it seemed they might. Somehow, they managed to bring both the boats and the fish safely to shore.
Notice that it was all the boats—none of them sank. They didn't have to offload the fish. They brought everything safely to land.
This is God’s word to you today: all your boats shall be brought safely to the right destination. None of them shall sink. You don’t have to lose one aspect of your life to preserve another. All your boats shall be brought to land with fish.
Every area of your life will experience peace and rest. You won’t have a thriving business or career while your marriage is sinking. You won’t celebrate breakthroughs in ministry while you’re dying spiritually. You won’t be an anointed minister while sinking financially.
You won’t have wayward children or a worldly spouse while being a successful professional. You won’t be a brilliant student living in sin or a spiritual student lacking wisdom. You will bring all your boats to land. None of them will sink on the sea of life.
But It's Not Just About Getting Your Boats To Reach the Shore Safely, There Is More.
Luke 5:11 says:
"So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him."
They followed Him after their boats were successfully brought to land.
The reason many are unable to concentrate on serving God is that they have many "boats" on the sea of life that they are trying to salvage from sinking. There are challenges everywhere. They are constantly putting out one fire after another—whether it’s a health or financial issue, or sometimes struggles with their education, career, or marriage.
When your boats are sinking, even if Jesus is calling, you can’t hear Him because your heart is not at rest.
Friend, it’s difficult to pray when creditors are chasing after you for their money. It’s hard to serve God with joy when there are long-term unresolved challenges in your life.
David couldn’t build a house for God because of the many battles he had to fight. But because Solomon had rest on every side, he was able to build the house. This is why all your boats must be safely brought to their rightful destination. God needs you! You were not created to struggle through life.
Grace, Capacity and Wisdom to Bring All Your Boats to the Shore
So that you can focus on following Jesus and serving His purpose, may you receive grace to bring every boat in your life safely to land. The challenges of life will not sink any of your boats, and neither will the breakthroughs that come your way.
I see God giving you the capacity and wisdom to handle every responsibility that comes with the breakthroughs in your life. There will be grace for excellent delivery in every area of your life. People will wonder how you can seamlessly combine different responsibilities without failing in any.
Maybe your marriage, business, career, or spiritual life is sinking right now, but I see God coming to your aid. I see God intervening, helping you bring all your boats to land, full of fish. You won’t sink under the pressure of academics, marriage, career, or ministry.
The Lord who rescued Peter when he was sinking is coming to your rescue this month. All you need to do is cry out to Him, just as Peter did. When he saw that he was sinking, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
He wants you to bring all your boats safely to land. You can have every area of your life flourishing. I want you to say with me, "I will bring all my boats safely to their destination."
‼️WARNING‼️
Boats are meant for catching fish, not for catching fun. There are so many fish (souls) lost in the sea of life that God wants to catch. There is a reason God gave you that job, business, home, and ministry.
Find a way to connect your boats—academics, business, career, finance, ministry—with the purpose of God. This is the ultimate reason why the breakthrough is coming your way.
Peter received his breakthrough after he released his boat to Jesus to reach out to men. Even after the breakthrough, he left his boat and followed Jesus. If you are committed to His purpose, you won’t have to toil to find fish in life. God will ensure that none of your boats sinks.
May you receive grace and capacity to bring all your boats safely to land this year. May the hand of the Lord reach out to you in any area of your life where you may be sinking. I want you to believe God’s word, because it works when other things fail.
It is your season of unprecedented breakthroughs!
“As small as a smartphone is, it can become the reason you begin to sink. When you didn’t have a smartphone, you weren’t addicted to social media or the internet.”
So good!
I will bring all my boats safely to their destination in Jesus’ name 🙏🏼
This is such an encouraging piece
God richly bless you for yielding to His voice🙏🏼