Pump It Up! Live Elated, Not Deflated Through Disappointing Daysਨਮੂਨਾ

‘Shore’ thing!

Dinghy days are a massive test of our faith levels. When all we can see is the sea, it’s difficult to believe that we’ll ever see a shore in sight again, and it’s a battle to keep a positive vision for our future. Faith is being sure of what we hope for - so how can we be sure we’ll reach the shore?

During my dinghy days, I desperately wanted to find a job - to be part of a team again, to earn again, and to feel like I was doing something that made a difference in the lives of others. That was the shore I longed for.

Our part in reaching the next shore is to do the daily grind of donkey work, stay close to God, read the Bible, fast, and pray to position ourselves to hear his voice and know his leading. We must also aim to live with assurance - having confidence and certainty that God is at work. God’s part is to lead and guide us to the next shore, to maneuver situations, to do the supernatural, and to display his sovereignty and providence through our lives.

I love the theory of ‘The Gap and the Gain’ (found in the book by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy). It explains how we often have goals in life, which is a good thing. But we are prone to focusing on the gap - on the length of time to get there, or the gap in our skills that means we have not yet arrived at the next shore. The book encourages you to focus instead on the gain - the incredible progress you have made in your life's journey so far. It also highlights that when you arrive at your next shore, there will likely be yet another ahead in the form of a new goal or dream, so it’s important to enjoy the journey of life and not to get discouraged in the gap, as most of life is lived in the gap!

None of us ever ‘arrive’ in life. Until we get to heaven, we never truly reach the shore. So let's enjoy the journey, celebrate our progress, and do our utmost to float with faith, not forgetting to live with a blessed as’shore’ance :)

Reflection

Celebrate your progress in life today, instead of focusing on all of the things you want to achieve in your journey ahead.

Make a list of your ‘gains’ - all of your progress in the last few years, and thank God for this today.