The Sailboat

It's not about what happens, it is about what you do with it when it happens. It is tempting to second guess what you did to cause a particular outcome, but after reading Exodus and the plagues and all that, I think I realize that God will use any situation for his purpose. God gets his point across by causing unexpected outcomes from our best efforts. It is not the effort that produced an outcome that is important but rather our response to the outcome.
When the outcome is good we tend to pat ourselves on the back and think, that was a great effort. When the outcome is something unexpected we think our effort failed. But actually neither reaction is correct. Neither the good outcome or the unexpected outcome can be credited to our effort but rather is the result of God's will. So it is more important to concentrate on what to do with the outcome than on the effort itself. How is it that God is moving you to respond to the outcome of your efforts?
I had a vision once of a sailboat. The boat was still on the water, becalmed. It was very similiar to an afternoon I spent in a becalmed sailboat with my father. Its great sails were stretched high above it, yet, it did not move. The sails drooped toward the water with no wind to move them. The rudder moved back and forth but could not turn the boat. It could not go forward, it could not go back, it could not be turned in either direction. It was becalmed, destined to sit on the water in the middle of the lake and do nothing.
What I realized from this vision is that the only important thing about effort, is that we make an effort at all; lift the sails up, pray for wind. The sail boat must be moving forward in order to be turned. If your sails are down, no wind is going to move that boat. God can not direct you if you are not moving. Ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit in your life to be the wind in your sails. Let Jesus be the rudder, pointing your vessel toward the Father, our God, who awaits us on the other side. A lighthouse beaconing us toward him.
The thing about a moving sailboat is that there is always outcome that can be changed. If the boat is moving, it can be turned around, it can be turned left or right, or it can be allowed to gain momentum in the direction it is going. Once the sails are up, the effort is not what is important. What is important is who we let steer our rudder.
It is important to know where you want to go and stay pointed in that direction. As long as you have lifted the sails, no further effort on your part will move the boat. You must have the wind in the sails to move. All you are asked to do is lift your sails and receive the wind. Asking Jesus to guide your rudder and pointing your outcomes toward God. Even if you are going full-speed in the wrong direction, as long as you are willing to 'come about' you can change your direction.
After much effort on my part to ensure a particular outcome, something totally unexpected happened to me. All my preparation resulted in something I was totally not prepared for. My gut reaction is to ask, "What did I do to get that outcome so I can make sure I never do it again?" However, after prayerful consideration, I realize that I can not take credit for the outcome. I need to evaluate the situation based on what God is trying to do through it. Not what caused the outcome, but what does the outcome need from me. Do I need to turn left or right, change direction, or gain momentum in the direction I am already heading?