Weathering the Storm
This morning I feel compelled to write; something I love but have done very little of with my wrist and arm tendinitis. As we face yet another delay with parts that were supposed to be ordered over a week ago, there is peace in my heart. I no longer need to ask why, but rest, assured that my Heavenly Father is directing our path.
I have read many devotions about storms of life and have even experienced a few figuratively and literally to help prepare my heart for this journey. In crossing the Mona Passage, we ended up on the rather treacherous “Shoals” where the depth in already rough waters went from over 8,000 ft to just 125 ft with scary results. It was on my overnight shift this error was made while Michael and the girls slept inside. As I sat at the helm, wearing my auto inflatable PFD and harnessed to the steel bar inside the cockpit on a moonless night, complete darkness surrounded and I could only see the cresting white of massive waves as they slapped and soaked from senseless directions. In our loop of downloaded music, David Crowder’s “I Am” played three times during our 29 hour Mona crossing. The words “In the middle of this storm, I am holding on, I am” resonated in my heart. Yet after a couple hours of praying, rebuking, and finally demanding God calm the sea, He gently showed me on the charts what had gone wrong. I woke Michael to reset our course. I apologized to my Father and rested as Michael relieved me to get us out of trouble.
A week later, we were in a worse situation on this beautiful, mighty Atlantic Ocean. In attempting to sail around DR, we were hit with multiple lightning storms; none predicted on radar or weather. We attempted to run away from them, yet every direction we turned a storm appeared and eventually two engulfed us in waves. Behind, starboard, and soon after port sides were purplish almost black skies lit with the most active lightning storms. Had it not been so frightening, it may have been one of the most beautiful works of nature I have experienced. There is something incredibly vulnerable and small about being on an angry sea, hours from land.
I sat on the cockpit floor and began to quietly sing “Oceans” by Hillsong. Alyssa sat in my arms, and joined me in song. When my voice cracked and stopped due to the emotion and tears held back, I could hear hers proclaiming victory. “Where feet may fail…” I thought of how I had to crawl to the girls in the cockpit because it was so rocky I fell over trying to walk while holding on. “And fear surrounds me” the thunder vibrated the floor of the boat and lightning struck seemingly 50 yards behind us. “I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves” as my faith grew and fear calmed. “You’ve never failed and you won’t start now” I resolved to let go of fear. I tucked our girls in our bed with prayers and snuggles. I returned in raincoat and PFD to Michael in the cockpit’s soaking rain, and together we quietly prayed and resolved that even if lightning struck our mast, God had us. We would lose all electronics but had backups, and we would not be harmed. The lightning would ground out through our sail drives and props. After 8 hours, we were anchored in a safe, calm harbor next to “The bridge to nowhere” in Samana.
We have had delays, tropical weather systems threatening, and engine failure. Yet we see God’s timing and protection are ever present and perfect. Places of delay and waiting have blessed us and demonstrated the most loving connections only He could orchestrate. God has demonstrated His protection in what we envision as His mighty hand before us to divert and dissipate tropical storms, to command lightning where to strike; we see angels surrounding us. Our family bonds are unshakable and Jesus is elevated in a new way at the core of our family. We are learning about other cultures and languages in stepping outside of the comforts of our beautiful America; seeing genuine joy in poverty living conditions. We are experiencing our Creator’s beauty both below and above the surface of the waves.
There is no testimony without the trial. When He shines in the darkest moments, when we have no control and the conditions surrounding us appear bleak, the light is all encompassing and He receives the glory. The enemy is defeated; darkness lit with glory. We are living surrender in ways we never knew we could. We don’t know how or where or when, but we know He is writing the story. Every trial we face is an opportunity for Him to shine, for us to extend empathy and love to others. It is growing our faith to new heights, and while we look with eager anticipation toward days of a perfectly functioning catamaran and perfect seas and wind in our sails, we know the blessing is right here. Perfect may never arrive this side of heaven. Right here in our Father’s arms is where we belong…because He is working, ever present, ever loving. We don’t need all of the answers. First and foremost, we need faith.
By Faith Crew
