Captain

Through waters uncharted my soul will embark
I’ll follow Your voice straight into the dark
And if from the course You intend
I depart
Speak to the sails of my wandering heart
Like the wind
You’ll guide
Clear the skies before me
And I’ll glide this open sea
Like the stars
Your Word
Will align my voyage
And remind me where I’ve been
And where I am going
Lost in the shallows amidst fear and fog
Your truth is the compass that points me back north
Jesus
My Captain
My soul’s trusted Lord
All my allegiance is rightfully Yours

-Captain by Hillsong United

I love the nautical theme behind this song because I reminds me of the word ‘steadfast.’ Steadfast is a word that I think we’ve all heard and know at least a generic sense of the meaning (which has to do with perseverance and endurance), and it’s one of my favorite words used in the Bible. It’s used 24 times in the NKJV, and 219 times in the ESV (most of which are used in conjunction with ‘love’ and 132 of those are in Psalms alone). Paul was also a fan of the word. A similar term, “hold fast,” is used 30 times in the ESV and 25 times in the NKJV. Yes, I know, hashtag Bible nerd. But, hashtag not ashamed. 😉

These terms have nautical histories. A fast was a term for a set of ropes that were held onto during rough, stormy seas to keep the ship upright and everyone in it, and stead means to stay in position. Hold, well, you know what that means.

Jesus is not only our captain, but He is also our fast to cling to, our fast that keeps us upright in stormy seas. Like seas, sometimes our lives are smooth sailing and sometimes it feels like we’re going to drown. Sometimes there’s fog or darkness, and its’ hard to see what’s up ahead. But no matter what, we can always trust Him to guide us through the storms. Our ship may get a little bruised and battered, but we’ll be better for the wear.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3

I also really love the line in Captains about reminding me where I’ve been and where I’m going. God has done so many things in me in the past couple years, and that compounds as I think more recently to the last year and a half, the last year, the last 7 months, the last few months, the last few weeks. Just to look at pictures from my trip to Zambia last year, which was literally only a year ago–a year ago today we left Zambia to head back home–and I barely recognize myself. Thinking back, I barely recognize myself from during AMT. He has just done a work in me, and it HAS NOT–repeat, HAS NOTTTTT–been without pain. CS Lewis said, “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”  He doesn’t allow us to go through the muck without an opportunity for growth, without an opportunity to overcome. God refines and reshapes us, just like trees have to be trimmed and gold has to go through fire.

He is by NO means finished with me–He never ever is, or rather, we’re never ever done needing refining because we’re imperfect, black-hearted sinners by nature–but He has shown me so much patience and grace during this season and taught me a lot. And it also feels like some things that He’s been working with me on are beginning to add up and really reveal His sovereignty over it all. With everything that He has done thus far, I cannot wait to see what He’s going to do (both in and through me) and where (both geographically and spiritually) He’s going to take me. I am certainly not without fault, but while my arms may shake, my hands may hurt, my knees may wobble, and my grasp may loosen, I will never let go of the fast.

“Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.” Habakkuk 1:5

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

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