MARCH 20-21 - Safe Harbour

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” - Romans 5:2-5

There are times in our lives that no matter what we do or try, obstacle after obstacle prevents us from achieving our goal, and we feel like giving up. Whether we do give up, or persevere, depends on the importance and value we place on our goal.

Francis Chichester is an example of this, when at the age of 65 years of age, he accomplished his ambition to sail single-handed around the world in 226 days – further, faster, than anyone in history. When he sailed into Plymouth Harbour on 28^th May 1967, the world had good reason to cheer.

Just weeks before, heavy seas in the South Indian Ocean, had battered his 53-foot sailing boat, “Gypsy Moth IV,” and the automatic steering gear broke, Chichester had almost given up. Without this essential equipment, Francis Chichester knew he would be unable to sleep, eat, navigate, change sails, or perform other vital survival tasks. Focusing on the end goal, he patched together a make-shift self-steering rig and completed the remaining 2,750 miles to make it to his only land stop – Sydney, Australia, where he rested for some weeks. He took this opportunity to re-fit his damaged boat and regain the 25 pounds weight he had lost before setting off on the most dangerous part of his trip – crossing the Pacific and rounding the notorious Cape Horn at the tip of South America, and on to his final goal....Plymouth Harbour.

Later Chichester was quoted as saying, “There is something nightmarish about deep breaking seas and screaming winds. I had a feeling of helplessness before the power of the waves rolling down on top of me. It all has ten times the impact when alone.” At any point he could have called it quits, but he heaped effort upon effort, saying, “I stick to the helm when I'm hardest hit; it's when the storm winds break that I just won't quit.” Through his victory, the world became a little richer.

Chichester's battle with the high seas epitomised the uphill struggle millions of people face in their lives. His “can-do” spirit is an inspiration to us to renew our determination not to quit when the going gets tough.

Perhaps you are facing a situation at the moment where everything seems to be going wrong, and the odds are stacked against you – place of work? a relationship? It may even be religion - you feel burnt-out, and as though your prayers are going no further than the ceiling....and you feel like giving up.

Jesus too could have given up. At any stage from before birth to the resurrection, He could have called it quits, but He didn't. When the going got tough He kept His eyes focused on His purpose, His goal – our salvation “....I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest” - John 10:10.

We will win through and reach the safe Harbour, if we just make Jesus our automatic steering gear.

Our music gives assurance that no matter how tough our going gets God will “Stand by Me” - Elvis Presley.