I admit I get agitated by the thinking that we are always contending for some thing. Always got to work hard or harder. I do believe in the finished work of Christ and the need for us to to deliver the world from itself by exposing the lies that work against peace and rest. I don’t believe leaving my place of rest.

I do understand. Last night a few of us gathered for a meal and at some point we prayed about children and generations to come. Amongst us there are personal desires and needs. Recently my wife and I stepped into a world of change that while not unfamiliar has brought new challenges. Things to overcome.

As I glanced at Facebook this morning I felt a “lull” had overcome many. For a sailing vessel on the water, a lull is that place where motion ceases as the wind drops and the sails hang limp. Nothing happens. Situations and circumstances had “stopped” them from going anywhere. There is another situation that occurs on the waters when the wind is blowing and as the vessel tacks or turns, slowness in the procedure can put the boat in the blowing wind at such and angle that the wind chatters the edges of the sail but no motion is occurring. Being in irons requires moving the rudder until you can get the sail to catch wind. The noise is loud and annoying until you get there.

You may feel you have encountered a situation of a lull. It is quiet and you just float. Some of you are there. You are at rest, but recognize that motion has stopped but for the currents or waves. Your direction is at the mercy of the current. Alas, I have been there. You want to get somewhere but there is nothing moving in the air. It is not unusual for the a lull or a peace to predict or preface a strong wind or even a storm.

So you are in a lull. What do you? What can you? You can relax. I was awake this morning very early. With so many “things” going on in my life it would have been easy to get upset. But instead I simply asked God to “hang out with me”. The feeling of facing situations abated and I hung out with “my Dad”. May I encourage you to hang out? Just relax. Allow yourself to ride the currents. Look beneath the surface. Watch the waves. You are not going to necessarily “force” your way out of this.

I assure you “I get it”. Last night I lay in bed and said God I am dealing with “mind sets” and establishing your kingdom. If this is where you want me, I will enjoy it. Cause you are with me. Like many I have no idea what is next or what is coming for me. I do know God loves me.

And I began to express His love for His people and blanket people with prayer. You can offer the fruit of your peace to others.

Are you the one who is hearing the “chattering” of the sails? The noise of unfulfilled sails? Unable to make progress? What I am going to say is what James said. “Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”

A small side lesson to be learned to avoid “irons”. You can not tack a sailing vessel slowly. That is the very thing that impedes the ability to get in position. Sometimes the turn or the tack brings the vessel up onto its edge precariously. But if you are to be in place for the next wind you must allow the vessel to tilt up to carry the wind and maintain speed.

While you may realize that your situation had a reason, the fact is to recover may take some personal effort. It may take changing what you say. Ingratitude can lock you up. It can stop your progress. It can even set in motion the forces that cause the inability to move. You may even look at the sails as a promise. Sometimes you must get the whole vessel (being) turned before you can catch the wind using the rudder or the tongue.

I find that “being in irons” has another analogy here. You see the other vessels moving and getting somewhere. It is very easy to be jealous of their progress. They are moving and your not. The sails are so noisy it is almost a mocking tone, a reminder. You must regain control. Moving the rudder like and oar will get the vessel back in position.

Negativity, nay saying and finger pointing are destructive elements for anyone but particularly a believer.

Last night in one of my dreams a storm had destroyed a number of buildings. Soon the sun appeared but the devastation was mighty. I saw the people come together. They cried, then they prayed and then they began to encourage one another and clean up. The sun was not the only brightness I saw. I saw the light of these people brightly shining. The result was it attracted others. And soon the destruction was but a memory.

You can lose your peace or you can get upset. You can allow the mocking accusations of the enemy to come and undermine your peace. Or you can just simply choose to trust, to pray, to encourage and to enjoy all that He has for you.

May your sailing be peaceful, joyful and restful.