You can’t control the wind, so you must adjust the sails …

I went sailing as a kid – I was horrible at it. I got stuck on the other side of the bay and was terrified! I couldn’t figure out how to maneuver my sails & udder to get myself back to the beach. It was awful. The instructor eventually rescued me and I curse those dreaded sabot sailboats to this day!

So while I know NOTHING about successful sailing – I know enough to realize the power of this analogy.

When a ship is in the midst of a storm and the wind is fierce, if you keep your sails tight and force them to go against the current, they will snap from the pressure of the resistance. 

We can’t control the weather any more than we can control if someone we love gets sick, falls in love with someone else, gets addicted to something, gets hit by a car or loses their job – you name it! But what we CAN control is how we face the problem coming at us. The last decade has undoubtedly shown us that there are shockingly way too many things that affect us that we have no control or influence over!

In the aftermath of my situation (mom died & husband cheated shortly after), I was acutely aware that there was nothing I could do to affect what happens in my life. Storms are going to come, no matter what. The best we can do is adjust our sails – meaning, don’t fight what is coming. Find a way to go with it. 

I know this sounds easier said than done – and I’m under no delusions that you can simply comply with what is happening around you.

But … it is possible. All of this is hard. You are either fighting the waves or relinquishing control. And both options require a strength you never thought you had.

The more you fight against something, the more it has the potential to break you.

Life is very much like a storm – it comes out of nowhere, thrashes you around, perhaps there are even casualties and when it’s over, there is a lot of repairing to be done. And while the waves are crashing and we’re getting tossed all around, what do we do? Do we fight it, do we pretend it’s not happening, do we lay down and let it just blow through us? Because the storm is here no matter what we do.

OR – do we adjust and bend and humble ourselves to the reality that we cannot control the weather? Instead, use the wind and the waves and the chaos to your advantage and go WITH it, rather than fight against it. 

I think the biggest mistake we make as humans is thinking we have control over ANYTHING other than our own minds & our own actions.

We can’t control the weather any more than we can control if someone we love gets sick, falls in love with someone else, gets addicted to something, gets hit by a car or loses their job – you name it! But what we CAN control is how we face the problem coming at us. The last decade has undoubtedly shown us that there are shockingly way too many things that affect us that we have no control or influence over!

In the aftermath of my situation (mom died & husband cheated shortly after), I was acutely aware that there was nothing I could do to affect what happens in my life. Storms are going to come, no matter what. The best we can do is adjust our sails – meaning, don’t fight what is coming. Find a way to go with it. 

I know this sounds easier said than done – and I’m under no delusions that you can simply comply with what is happening around you.

But … we must, if we want to survive & thrive! All of this is hard. You are either fighting the waves or relinquishing control. And both options require a strength you never thought you had.

The way I have adjusted my sails is to rely on my faith in God over myself and trust that while I don’t understand why and I sure do wish things were different, my life is in his hands and his will is better for me than anything I could think of for myself.

Every single one of us is here because God has a plan – and just because we don’t know what it is, doesn’t mean it won’t be wonderful!

And you know what else – when the storm passes, the sun comes out. Storms do not last forever. But how you respond in the midst will help you once it’s over.

My prayer for you is that you find a way to ride out the storm with grace, faith & trust in our wonderful God. Sometimes it feels like you’re being battered from all sides, and its quite possible that you are, but perhaps instead of fighting it or ignoring it, you embrace the struggle as something bigger – something that is meant to ultimately bring you clear skies & a beautiful rainbow. 

XO

Tay