Don't Leave Shore Without Him

A young naval ensign was completing his first cruise aboard a large destroyer. He performed so admirably in executing all of his duties that he was given the honor of getting the ship “underway.”

In his excitement and enthusiasm for being given such an honor, he went through every procedure carefully, wanting to further impress his superiors. However, in setting a new record, he broke an old rule. As he was steering the ship out of the harbor, the First Officer quietly said to him, “Ensign, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules of the sea. Make sure the Captain is on board before you get underway.”

There are times in all of our lives when we are so anxious to get underway that we leave our “Captain” standing on the shore. We look at all we are expected to do, the obligations we must fulfill and the tasks that are before us. So we rush to begin the journey. We soon discover that we are in a sea with winds swirling around us and we lose our direction or become surrounded with waves that would overwhelm and destroy us. We are only safe with Him.

Prayer: Lord, may we realize that we will not be safe without Your presence as we travel life’s seas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 139:10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.