Life Lessons: Seven of Ten – My job is to drive the boat.

August 6, 2025

The world can feel overwhelming these days. Between personal struggles, local challenges, national divisions, and international crises, there’s no shortage of things to worry about. Rather than listing all the issues we face, let me ask you a simple question:

“What keeps you up at night?”

Life Lessons: Seven of Ten – My job is to drive the boat. #hope #joy #writingcommunity Share on X

We all have those concerns that make us toss and turn when we’d rather be enjoying peaceful sleep. For most people, worry has a way of creeping in during those quiet nighttime hours when our minds are free to wander.

Finding Rest Despite the Chaos

I’m fortunate that sleeplessness isn’t usually my struggle. While my mind sometimes races with the day’s events, I’ve found a simple trick that works for me: I fall asleep to gospel bluegrass music. I know it sounds unusual. You might think that kind of music would keep you awake, but I rarely make it through more than three or four songs before I’m out. There’s something about the combination of melody and message that brings me peace.

But here’s what I’ve discovered: even if you can sleep well at night, daytime worry can still be devastating. Whether it’s health concerns for my family or anxiety about the darkness we see in our world, if I let my mind spiral through all the “what-ifs,” I can easily become paralyzed.

Jesus Shows Us the Way Forward

Thankfully, Jesus gives us clear guidance on how to handle life’s uncertainties. During His earthly ministry, after spending considerable time confronting the religious leaders about their misplaced priorities, Jesus made a startling prediction: the temple would be completely destroyed. When His disciples asked for more details about the timing and what to expect in the future, Jesus gave them, and us, crucial advice.

“Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4, NIV)

Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He understood that His followers would face the same kinds of challenges we see today. Look at His prophetic words:

“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:5-13)

The Boat Driver’s Responsibility

So how do we apply this to our daily lives? How do we avoid being consumed by worry about things beyond our control? I’ll share a powerful analogy, in my words, based on my recollection, that Steve Farrar presented at a men’s retreat over twelve years ago. While he directed it toward men, I believe it applies to all Christians who want to live with purpose and peace.

Picture yourself driving a ski boat with your children skiing behind you. Each child responds differently to the experience:

• One grips the rope in terror, screaming about what might happen if they fall
• Another flails wildly, careening from side to side and hitting waves at dangerous angles
• A third attempts risky tricks that border on reckless

In the midst of all this chaos behind you, what’s your job?

Your job is to drive the boat.

Your responsibility is to maintain a straight course at a steady pace, providing the consistency and stability your family needs—regardless of how they’re handling the ride at any given moment. You become their example, their guide, and their demonstration of how to navigate life with faith and wisdom.

Standing Firm in Uncertain Times

This is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. When He warns us to “watch that no one deceives you,” He’s reminding us to stay focused on our course. No matter what chaos swirls around us, whether in our personal lives or in the broader world, we’re called to remain steadfast in Him.

The promise is clear: “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Our role isn’t to control every outcome or eliminate every threat. Our role is to drive the boat—to maintain our focus on Christ, provide steady leadership for those who depend on us, and trust that He is ultimately in control of the destination.

In a world full of uncertainty, this is how we find peace: not by solving every problem, but by faithfully steering the course He has set before us.