Sam* and Elisa* are siblings. Sam is a believer in Jesus Christ and Elisa is not. In the midst of a beautiful summer, Sam receives an invitation to go sailing with his friend Charlie*. Sam really wants to go, the weather is perfect and he gets to hang out with a great friend. Ordinarily, Sam would see this as a "blessing" and go for it, that's what he did last time. This time he hesitates.
He's learning something new in his journey with Jesus, letting Jesus be Lord in every area of his life. So Sam resists the pressure to say yes instantly and tells Charlie he'll get back to him. Sam chooses to ask Jesus whether he should go sailing or not. As Sam prays he sees a (mental) picture of Elisa on the sailboat, wind in her hair, free. He feels such peace as he sees the picture and deep inside he knows Jesus is saying, yes go sailing...take Elisa with you.
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Sam puts the idea of sailing to Elisa on a text message. No immediate reply is forthcoming. After a while he wonders what Elisa is thinking, does she want to come or not, if this is Jesus' will why doesn't she just say yes!
A day later Elisa replies saying she isn't free to go sailing as she needs to work. Sam asks if its possible to exchange with someone. Turns out Elisa has already asked everyone in her team and no one is able to cover for her. Sam recalls the picture Jesus gave him. This isn't going the way he expected but he chooses to wait on Jesus.
Later that evening Elisa arrives home from work and announces she can go sailing. Sam is thrilled, God's plan is becoming real. The day arrives. Sam and Elisa have breakfast and prepare sandwiches for their day out on the water. It's the weekend, usually the time the house gets cleaned and all sorts of other jobs get done. Sam's mum thinks the sailing will last a couple of hours at the most and expects Elisa home shortly afterward to help get things done around the house. Sam explains to his mum that they have no idea when they'll be back. Mum calls Sam aside and has a quiet word saying, "I really need Elisa's help, there's so much to do and I just can't do it all without her."
Sam feels a strange tension in his chest as he encounters resistance to God's plan. He tells his mum that Elisa has to go. He doesn't say why or offer any other explanation, honestly he doesn't really know what else to say. Amazingly, his mum simply accepts that.
There are no promises it would be easy but there is a promise that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us...
As Sam turns to leave the room a text from Charlie comes through saying the winds are really strong and it may not be wise to have too many people on the boat, is Elisa still coming? Sam feels that pressure in his chest again. He goes to a quiet place and prays, "Lord Jesus this is Your will, the winds will be perfect." Charlie is a believer too so Sam replies saying, yes Elisa is still coming and explains the picture Jesus gave him. Sam knows that if he didn't hear God right, there won't be any peace in his heart and mind. Yet, he feels peace even though the winds are really strong. It's a risk and he's willing to take it. Charlie is on board too.
A little while later Sam and Elisa are on the boat, sitting together at the bow with the gentlest breeze blowing over them. The sky is bright blue and the waters are calm. Charlie is amazed that there is so little wind, especially after the forecast they heard. Sam smiles to himself knowing Jesus has answered his prayers. Sam and Elisa enjoy the view and the open water, they talk and are happy to just be. Sam feels such a sense of freedom in him and still the peace has remained and he knows that Elisa somehow feels the same.
After motoring for a while they get into a perfect wind and with the sails up they enjoy a wonderful sail, heeling in the wind with great excitement. Ah freedom!
Sam is full of joy, it's been a beautiful day and he is grateful to have spent quality time with Elisa. He thinks back on all the tests that came his way. First, the temptation to be his own lord by making his own decisions. Second, that Elisa had to work. Third, that mum needed help. Fourth, that the winds were forecast to be too strong. Sam realises that through this he has learnt that God does care about every detail of our lives and wants to be involved in it. This is what a relationship with Jesus looks like, simply walking hand-in-hand with Him. We can know His will by asking Him, what do I do? where do I go? When we know His will, His plan there is a peace that transcends understanding even when things stand in the way of His will being fulfilled, that enables you to stand up in the face of resistance and there is protection even in the face of great danger.
Philippians chapter 4, verse 6-7 (KJV) says: Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Sam doesn't understand everything that happened within Elisa that day while out on the water but he trusts that if it was Jesus' will, a seed of something miraculous and wonderful was sown into her.
Proverbs 3:5 to 6 (KJV) says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
*This is a true testimony, names have been changed.
