The Boat

“Christ on the sea of Galilee” by Simon de Vos (1603–1676)

Attribution: Simon de Vos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We enter the boat together as

a family, a friend, a team

with a destination in sight.

Yet, you slept while a storm

brewed in my heart and mind.

I looked around at the empty sea

alone in my turmoil and fear.

Jesus, Jesus, I am scared.

Rescue me.

You awake and calm the storm

around me.

But there is still a storm

inside me.

You look at me and ask:

Will you show me your hurt?

Will you let me embrace you?

Will you accept my healing grace?

I sit down in the boat

and realize that I had asked 

for my body to be saved

when I needed to ask you to 

rescue my soul.

Lord, you are my Savior.

Here is my hurting heart in need of

Your healing love. 

About this poem:

“One day he [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea and they obey him?””

— Luke 8:22-25

There are some seasons in life when I feel like I am “in the boat” that is quickly filling up with water. Tears come at the drop of a hat… sadness that is new and fresh, and deep and old. The storm around me makes me feel alone, but our faith tells me that Jesus is there in the boat with me. Jesus is there in my desires for the future, in my childhood memories, in my grief, in my fear of abandonment, in my aching heart… Though it is difficult, even though I am afraid of being thrown into the water, I must draw closer to Jesus and His love. I must make the decision to call out to Him to rescue my soul, not only my earthly body.

He wants to see my hurt.

He wants to embrace me, tears and all. 

He wants to gift me with healing grace.

He desires to be with me. 

And friend, He desires to be with you too. He desires to be with us in our healing journey, wherever we are at. He desires to be with us on day one, day one hundred, and day one million. Each moment of the day, Jesus desires you. He desires you to give Him your bleeding, wounded, hurting heart so that He can love you, even in the boat. 

Lord, teach us to have faith in Your presence. Teach us to call out Your name always. You desire to bring us peace in the midst of the storm.

About the author:

The author (publishing under her first name) is a daughter of Christ, a sister in the ACOD community, and an educator of young adults.

Reflection Questions for Small Groups or Individuals

1. Do you ever feel like Kara when she says, “I sit down in the boat and realize that I had asked for my body to be saved when I needed to ask you to rescue my soul[?]”

2. Which character in the boat do you resonate with?

3. How does this poem speak to you?