CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP
Thank you so much for continuing with me along my adventure aboard the Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships, from March 6th to April 4th, 2020. This is a continuation of the lessons learned during my quarantine and of God’s interventions, His revelations, His sustaining power, as well as the miracles He performed during my voyage.
So imagine, if you will, the thing you’ve dreamed of, planned for, and desired above all else is finally happening. You’re planning to celebrate a monumental accomplishment, and everything has seemingly gone off without a hitch. Time off from work. Check. Enough money saved up. Check. Buy-in from your loved one. Check. It appears that all systems are a go.
I was so elated! The dream trip to Antarctica, item #17 on my bucket list, and the mega celebration of my 50th birthday was becoming a reality. Sure, we were hesitant at first. After all, the Coronavirus pandemic was just gaining momentum in China and Italy. The Princess Cruise ship out of Japan had been hit hard by the infiltration of the virus and had been docked and quarantined in San Francisco. I had some major projects coming due at work. My brother-in-law was beginning to round the corner past his triple bypass surgery. The start of allergy season was approaching, which always meant more wheezing, coughing and sneezing for me. And finally, I had just begun feeling whole after fighting some parasitic virus likely acquired from my international travel before this.
But we were able to explain away every obstacle. I told myself that the pandemic was over there in those countries, not where we were headed. And our travel agent assured us that measures had been taken to guarantee our safety. They told us to relax and that we’d be fine. Check. My health was finally improving as I had just started some new meds that seemed to have been working, and I hadn’t had an asthma attack in a couple of months. Check. I had my laptop and we paid for onboard Wi-Fi so that we could work on the boat. Check. And my mother-in-love came back from Rwanda to help with the care of my brother-in-love, so we knew he’d be in excellent hands. Check. Check. Check. No more problems. Everything was handled. We had it all under control.
So we set sail on March 6th, and during Week One, there was nothing but blue skies, leaping orcas, and smooth sailing. The food was great. Our room was bigger than we thought it would be. We met some nice folk. Dwayne and Rene, from Australia. Ed and Elaine, from Florida. Adrian, the coolest basketball playing, sneaker-collecting server from the Philippines and Roberta, the spa specialist, from South Africa. We visited some amazing places like Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Puntas Arenas, Chile. We watched some really good movies like Harriet, Tolkien, 55 Steps, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. We relaxed. We got comfortable. We became complacent. We settled into a nice routine, and we stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop. We were lulled into believing that everything was in fact okay and that all of our planning had paid off.
To Be Continued…
Scripture
Proverbs 19:21 – There are many plans in a man or woman’s hearts. Nevertheless, the Lord’s counsel will stand.
Lessons Learned
Let’s look at Proverbs 19:21. “There are many plans in a man or woman’s hearts. Nevertheless, the Lord’s counsel will stand.”
Before the “boat experience,” I interpreted this passage of scripture to mean simply run my plans by God, and if I did’t hear any booming voice from heaven telling me no, go back, don’t do it, and if the coast seemed clear, then surely my plans and God’s plans were one in the same.
Looking back, I understand just how arrogant and wrong I was. I understand that there shouldn’t have been and should never be Davenia’s plans. I should not be sitting around dreaming, planning, scheming, and orchestrating. Instead, I should be spending time in prayer. I should be meditating on God’s Word night and day (Joshua 1:8). I should be seeking God’s counsel and waiting for Him to give me my marching orders (Psalm 119:105). And because God knows my heart, He knows all about my passions and my desires, and He knows where my strengths lie and what my talents are. Therefore, there should be no reason for me to lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I mean, God created me, for goodness sake. So my response should be to trust Him. Trust that He’ll give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4). Trust that He’ll maximize and use my talents (Matthew 22:37-40). Trust that He will bless me exceedingly abundantly beyond anything I could ever imagine or plan (Ephesians 3:20). Trust that as I commit my will and work to Him, my plans—or should I say, God’s plans for me—will succeed (Proverbs 16:3).
So I’m shredding my bucket list. I have no clue what’s gonna happen tomorrow. I don’t know if the blessing He has in store for me will be in Antarctica or Africa.
Does this mean I’ve stopped dreaming? Absolutely not. Does this mean I’ve given up or that I’m running scared? No. But what it does mean is that I’m walking in a freedom I’ve never experienced before. I’m no longer ruled by my wishes, wants, or ways. I now allow and welcome God to direct my path.
What does this look like, you ask? Great question. Let me give you an example. My plan was to write an entire series of books. And the time on the boat was for finishing #2 in the series. I had a title, an outline, and a plot. I knew what readers of the first book liked, I’d learned how to be less wordy, and how to be more inclusive and less “preachy” in hopes of reaching a broader audience. New characters had been developed, and some of the favorite friends from the first book were to be included. I was set. My plans were firm.
But while on the boat, the writing stopped when the shift from me-focused to God-focused occurred. God wasn’t telling me to give up the dream; instead, He was saying the dream wasn’t for right then. It’s like God was saying to me, “You need to experience some things first. You need to spend more time in the Word before sharing it. I have some molding, reshaping, and transforming to complete in you. And I have another message that I need you to share. My people are hurting. They’re feeling discouraged. They’re adrift without a shore to call home, just like you. I need you to share this message. We’ll get back to the book later. But right now, this is the path I have for you.”
Lessons Lived
I prayed over this new path. I searched God’s Word for confirmation, and I’m striving every day to be obedient and walk as He leads.
This process of praying and obeying looks something like this:
COMMIT
I commit my hopes, dreams, desires, needs, wants, concerns, fears, and all of my ways to God. I give it to Him, trusting that He loves me more than anything and His plans are only to prosper me. So whether “prospering” me means going a different way than what I had planned, or experiencing some bumps and bruises as He prepares me, or having to wait or fail a few times, lose friends, offend someone along the way — it doesn’t matter — I’m committed to the ways of my Father.
CONCEIVE
I remain open to whatever God has for me. I look out for where He’s working. I journal or document the ideas or visions that come to me.
CONFIRM
When God gives me a dream or a vision, or when he nudges me, or I get that feeling that this is what I’m supposed to do, I seek confirmation through the reading of God’s Word and prayer.
CARRY IT OUT
I obey. It’s scary at times, but I trust and obey. If the path seems steep or rocky or long, I trust and obey. I may fall and get bloodied and bruised, but I trust and obey. And all the while, I remain connected to the path maker, the dream giver, my life sustainer.
God has a new path for me. And maybe, just maybe, what God has in store for you is far greater than what you’ve dreamed or imagined. Maybe, just maybe, God’s plans will be the very ones that stretch you, strengthen you or save you. I am learning to be a girl “outta control,” trusting God as the captain of my ship. Won’t you let Him lead you today too!
Reflections
- How does Proverbs 19:21 speak to you?
- What would happen if you ripped up your bucket list?
- What dreams or visions has God given you? Apply the three C’s over the next week:
- Committing your ways to God
- Conceiving whatever plan or dream He has in store for you
- Confirming that dream or plan through prayer and the study of God’s word ∙ Now that you have a dream or vision, what do you need to do to get it done or carry it out? Where can you start right now? And then take the first step. I double—dog dare you. And when you do, I guarantee that your life will never be the same
- What are your personal LIFE Lessons?
- Liberation: What new insights have you gained that have freed you from past thoughts or practices?
- Inspiration: In what ways have you been spiritually, emotionally or mentally motivated to live for Christ?
- Fortification: What additional scriptural texts, passages or stories can reinforce and strengthen you against the attacks of the enemy?
- Edification: How might you share your story to edify others and bring glory to God?
Playlist
As you process, digest, and apply what’s been shared, here are a couple of songs from my “Got Me Through on the Boat” Playlist. Listen, Let the music infiltrate your soul. Read the lyrics and let the words encourage you. And I pray that you’ll be blessed as I was.
Jonathan McReynolds — God is good — Jonathan McReynolds — God Is Good (Live)
Laura Story — Blessings — Blessings — Laura Story (with lyrics)
Prayer
