As we sail the seas of life, our travels are impacted by forces outside of our control: winds, currents, temperature variances, mechanical failures and perhaps even a novice crew.
High winds can tear our sails; strong currents can delay us or push us off course; high temperatures can burn us and make it difficult to work the lines; a broken rudder can leave us floundering without direction; and a novice crew might just be our worst enemy.
But no matter how difficult the going may be, we always have a survival craft filled with rations, fuel, a powered engine and a GPS to get us safely home. We rely on the person we trust the most, our Executive Officer or “XO, to see to it that our survival craft is properly lowered into the water.
But with the winds howling and the sea churning and the mast cracking, how do we get the attention of our one chance for survival? The answer is clear communication.
You see, God is our “XO,” and prayer is our line of communication. We need to go to the conning tower and remember His direction to us: “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mt 6:6-7)
With God as our “XO,” it is not necessary to send up rocket flares. He is at our side and knows what our needs are, he is just awaiting his orders, so to speak. However, because of the trust we place in Him, we give him the latitude to use His methods and to do things in His time to get things under control. By placing our trust in Him, we don’t undermine His authority in the eyes of the rest of the crew.
We also show that we have faith in His ability to discern what is better in the long run, because in Mt 21:22 it says,
“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”
There are times that we make mistakes as captain of our ship, and require assistance. It is then that we recall the words of God that “if then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land.” (2 Chr 7:14),
Knowing all of the above, we naturally come to the realization that through prayer, conversation with God, we can get through any peril in our lives by enduring and staying the course. He hears us, guides us, and puts wind in our sails when we need it, and if necessary, calms the stormy seas. He rewards our faith, and fuels us with hope.
Our prayers are not just for ourselves, but for those awaiting our cargo, the rest of the crew, our families and theirs. While all parties have different interests in our voyage, all can have their prayers answered if they approach God with a contrite heart and believe, for he tells us: “all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.” (Mk 11:24-25) This is a forgiveness of which we are always reminded as we pray the “Our Father”.
During this Lenten season, as we await the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, let’s “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, (and) persevere in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)
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