Safe Harbour

May I ask, friend, are you going through difficult times in your life? Does it feel like you have lost everything and no longer have the energy to fight? Would you describe yourself as close to burnout or actually burnt out?

You are not alone; in fact, these things are common to all who believe in the Lord, because we have an enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy us. This is not meant to frighten you, but to show the reality of the cost of following our Saviour, who has already paid the price to give us Shalom Peace.

In the midst of the chaos of tribulation and the pain of suffering, the Lord is with you and will never forsake you; in fact, he is helping you right now to navigate the storm and bring you to a quiet harbour where you can rest.

We are so easily overwhelmed at times, caught up in the attitude of “I must do more”, and forget that central to the care of humanity is a gift often overlooked, called Rest, or, as the Hebrews record it, Shabath in Genesis 2:2

So if there is a promised safe harbour to enter from the storms of life, first, how do we get there, and what's the purpose when we get there? Is it enforced captivity that stops us from moving forward and doing what we need to do? In my experience, I have had many enforced periods of rest, and, honestly, these times have been the hardest and most painful. Yet when I have come through them, even if it was kicking and screaming, I have been changed and grown in character.

We have to accept that God is God and we are not, and if we are his sons and daughters, then we have to accept that he knows us better than we know ourselves and also knows what is best for us.

But what can happen in those places of rest? Well, let's picture a ship coming into harbour, offloading its cargo and going into dry dock for repairs and even a refit. If we see the ship as representing your “Vessel”, your body, soul, and mind, and the Holy

Spirit as the Master Shipbuilder, then you will see that if we let the Master work on what's worn out, tarnished, or in need of repair, we will be better able to sail once again in the sea of life and better equipped to navigate the dangerous waters.

Could we not all benefit from the Master tending to our vessels, healing and repairing them? Could we not also enjoy an upgrade to our navigation equipment so we can see the things to come more clearly? Could we not enjoy a fresh coat of paint and a cleansing of all the journey's contamination, relieving us of what we have picked up along the way?

The harbour is waiting for you to arrive. The Holy Spirit is waiting for you to agree to the work needed in your heart. And your vessel is longing for the rest that is promised. Don’t stay in the storm, and worse still, don’t remain out on the sea of life without coming into harbour rest, because one thing is certain: if you do, you'll likely be shipwrecked.

Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters;

they saw the deeds of the LORD,

his wondrous works in the deep.

For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,

which lifted up the waves of the sea.

They mounted up to heaven;

they went down to the depths;

their courage melted away in their evil plight;

they reeled and staggered like drunken men

and were at their wits' end.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

Psalms 107:23-30