Steady as She Goes

“When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.” ~Psalm 75:3

Have you ever been caught in a storm on the sea? I’m not talking about taking the boat out on the lake when suddenly it starts to rain. I’m speaking of a real storm on the ocean. The temperature drops several degrees in a moment. Swells exceed more than a couple meters. Strong winds drive the rain nearly horizontal. Darkness presses in until you can feel it. I picture the scene in Willem van de Velde the Younger’s “The Gust.” One of the ship’s masts is broken as another billows loosely in the wind, its ropes having snapped under the stress created by the storm’s power. A smaller vessel filled with men appears to be abandoning the ship. Perhaps some of the sailors thought escape was their only chance at survival. Fear will make you do foolish things, like leaving a larger boat to escape in a smaller one — one that’s more susceptible to the destructive power of the storm. 

Sometimes life in the church can feel a bit tempestuous. It may even seem like the masts are breaking and the ropes are being torn apart. There are so many difficulties living life in community — of being an assembly of sinners surrounded by sinners. “This person’s personality rubs me wrong. That person’s problems are all I ever hear. I disagree with the way he or she ____.” Then there’s the ebb and flow of seasons through which a church goes: building a new sanctuary; worshiping in a Fellowship Hall; pastoral change; even the sound system is different than it used to be. “I don’t like all the change we’re experiencing right now. I miss this feature of yesteryear. I wish we did this, that, or the other thing differently.” If we’re not careful, we might think the best thing to do is abandon ship. Leaving the church (or at least this one) might just seem like the only option, especially when the constant barrage of waves wears down your courage and commitment. 

My dear friends, when ships go through a storm, the captain calls to his helmsman, “Steady as she goes!” Keep the ship straight. Stay on course. Don’t deviate by turning to the left or the right. Maintain a consistent azimuth and pace. Trust that the path we’ve taken thus far will lead us to our destination. 

I want to thank each of you who have weathered the recent storms in the life of our church for your confidence in Christ as He leads us all ahead. He has plotted our course and accounted for the storms, and He maintains control of the helm through the shepherding care and leadership of the Session. When all around us feels like it’s tottering, it is He who keeps His church steady. While waves will surely rise up and driving wind will threaten the ropes, Jesus sustains us and guards us as we stay on the ship. The little life boat may look appealing, but Jesus is the Captain of this ship. Steady as she goes.

Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Pastor of Teaching & Spiritual Formation