Calm seas never made skilled sailors.
African proverb
Why the Journey Matters
The African proverb reminds us that wisdom reaches beyond oceans and ships and speaks directly to the human soul. Life itself was never meant to be lived on still waters alone. It is shaped by movement—by challenge, endurance, and growth. Seasons of ease may bring rest, but it is the storms that teach us how to stand.
When we come to God, the journey does not end—it begins. Faith is not a final harbour but the moment we step onto open waters. From that point on, life unfolds with purpose. Scripture assures us, “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, BSB). Nothing in our lives is random or wasted, not even suffering.
Along the way, we encounter obstacles of many kinds. Some quietly test our integrity; choices that reveal who we truly are when no one else sees. Others arrive with great force: loss, illness, grief, or trials that threaten to overwhelm us. These are the rough seas of faith, where belief matures into lived trust. As James reminds us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2–3, BSB).
God has not left us without direction. His Word is our guide when the way forward seems unclear. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, BSB). When the horizon fades and answers feel distant, Scripture provides steady light, enough for the next step. In ancient times, travellers strapped lamps to their feet to protect them from snakes and they carried lamps to illuminate the path. When the way forward is unclear and the horizon disappears, God’s Word remains steady, offering direction and hope.
Prayer keeps us close to Him on the journey. We are urged, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6, BSB). Faith does not demand full understanding—it calls us to trust the One who sees the entire journey.
We are never wandering blindly. God placed humanity in the world with intention. “God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:27–28, BSB). Even when we stumble through the darkness, God remains near—closer than we realize.
Over time, the storms begin to shape us. What once frightened us strengthens us. The hardships that seemed unbearable refine our faith and deepen our dependence on God. Paul writes, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16, BSB). The world may measure loss, but God is quietly renewing the soul.
This journey is not our final home. We are being prepared for something greater than this life can offer. “For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14, BSB). Every trial, every season of waiting, every hard-earned moment of perseverance is shaping us for eternity.
This is why God placed us here—not for comfort alone, but for transformation. Not for calm seas, but for deep faith. The journey itself is the work. And in the end, we will find that we were never sailing alone.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Study Bible (BSB).
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