Keep Rowing
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It’s our year end message, which should be filled with reflective thoughts trailed by celebration over the years successes and accomplishments. That’s what I “think” I should write about during this culminating week of the year 2025.
But…it’s just not where my heart is.
God has been consistently tapping on my heart to focus carefully on the places where He is at work, where He’s turning ashes into beauty.
If you know me personally, you know I choose to live with my cup half full…and I get super frustrated when all I see are half empty cups. It’s hard wired into me. The one who knit me together, knit me that way.
And yet, as He has grown me, He continually shows me how He wants to be seen and known in the hardest of places. The places where only HIS light is shining…and that can only happen if His light is surrounded by utter darkness. How can we ever know the fullness of His greatness, if he only redeems and rescues us from semi-hard places, where we could still see, faintly.
In many ways 2025 has been a wonderful year. In many other ways, 2025 has been a year of grueling trials with unexpected waves.
The last week of every year, Steve and I are always so thankful to get to be with our adult children and our grandchildren. It is a wonderful way to end a year and begin a new year. Together. It has always been a major highlight for us all. Oh but this year, it has turned out so very differently. We are a family of 8 adults and 4 grands; 12 total. This year 7 of us have shared the flu with one another. On vacation. With hopes and dreams of long bike rides and lots of ice cream. It’s a first world thing, this I know, but it has been very hard. I asked Steve, “Honey, should we just give up, pack up, and head home?” He wisely said, “No dear, this isn’t when we leave…this is just when we keep rowing.” Keep rowing. Even if the waters seem murky and dark, even if the waves seem to be getting stronger. Keep rowing. We have a boat and oars. Just row.
Amazingly, I’ve learned that God absolutely loves it when HIS children find themselves in the hardest of places…and…(wait for it)…
they cry out to Him with everything they have.
They know that only He can carry them through the dark waters. They know that ONLY HE is able to do what needs to be done.
The Mighty God, the King of Kings, El Roi (the One who sees you) — pauses in the Heavenlies to see if we will remember that HE IS ALL WE NEED. Corrie Ten Boom was wonderfully right when she penned, “You’ll never know that God is all you need, until God is all you have.” No matter how things look. No matter that nothing turned out the way we thought it would. No matter that “dreams” didn’t come true.
That’s a deep-well for the soul.
Will we still see God’s goodness, even if our dreams never happen?
The moments when we realize that our plans are not His plans and then we realize He is working out His plans — He is not even thinking about working out our plans. Those are raw moments. Scripture tells us, “God’s ways are higher than our ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Oh but sometimes I’d be completely content with my “lower” level plans…cause at least then I could have an idea of outcomes.
I’ve thought several times this week about how important it is to reflect well on the year past and tighten our boot straps for the year ahead. But then when I would sit to write…the Father gave me nothing to say.
So I asked, “Lord, what am I to focus on? What would you have me write? What is closest to your great heart?” — and He so sweetly began to whisper,
“Be bone honest. Tell the truth. Tell the stories of the remarkable souls who laid their dreams down and chose ME. Be honest about the brave souls who don’t have to have life turn out their way…those who grieve what was lost, and still reach for ME. I’m at the center of their story…even though it’s messy, I’m there.
They don’t pout with me. They row.
They don’t critique me. They row their boat.
They might question me, but amazingly, that passes away quickly. And they keep rowing.
They don’t insist on life going their way. They row with fervor.
They do not worry about what others will think of them. They don’t have time for that — they are too busy rowing their boat. They are singularly focused on hearing my voice and honoring my guidance. I am their gps.
They are the warriors and they quietly win many battles. They don’t make a big show of it. For they know, I spoke, they obeyed, and I am ever and always at their side. They are my treasures on earth — and I am eager to bring them home to Heaven when their time on earth is done.
Rowers like the lovely mentor who gave me a safe space to pray, weep, lay down my heart, and hear His voice. The day I left her home, I knew the work of Kenya was ahead for us. The way she prayed…I’m certain Hell trembled and Heaven sang. She lives in Heaven now. Cancer ended her days here. She would have never asked for cancer to be in the lines of her life…oh but she kept rowing and finally made port.
Another of my mentors also wrestles with the “doormat” of cancer. She is a fierce, amazing, surrendered, beautiful daughter of the most High God. She’s rowing the boat HE put her in. Not even concerned with the color or size of her canoe. She just knows He chose it for her…and that’s where she will be found. She’s a tiny rower — outpacing many.
How about the two young mothers I’ve talked with this week —who prayed for a baby, became pregnant, were thrilled, only to miscarry. Those precious little souls were taken back to Heaven; the two young mothers hearts are aching. And yet…they tearfully surrender. They choose to trust the One who will hold their little ones until the day they get to meet them in Heaven. Such painful, sweet surrender. They are rowing their boat towards the places Jesus calls them to. Trusting. Believing. Choosing His good ways — even when the currents threaten to sweep their hearts away.
And what of the faithful pastor’s wife who has served alongside her husband for all their married days. Adopting two children. Serving God and others. Five years ago, she was prescribed a medication that has caused gastric paralysis. Multiple surgeries have brought no healing. She suffers, to the same degree that Joni Eareckson Tada has suffered…but she will not stop rowing her boat, she’s determined to make shore on the other side. She just recently returned from yet another missions trip with her husband.
We could never overlook the wonder and perseverance of Joni Eareckson Tada, who tirelessly, even in the midst of intense pain, continues to care for and reach toward the handicapped children and people of the world. She rows her boat steadily, even though she can not physically do so — she spiritually does.
How about a beautiful girl in Kenya who is working with all her might to become a surgeon. She has the cognitive ability and the spiritual strength — but her home of origin gives her no support as she works tirelessly to make the grades and care for people. Abuse did not stop her. Rape did not stop her. She just kept on rowing, trusting and believing that God is good and He will make a way.
And lastly (oh but I could go on forever…) what of the two women I know who long, with all their hearts to care for a home; honoring God and following the ways of Christ. B-u-t, they are married to men who will not do the work of bending their knee to Jesus and caring for their home in His Ways. These ladies are broken hearted…and yet, with children looking to them, they know — they simply much keep rowing the boat God has placed them in. To do the “next right thing” no matter what their spouse is choosing to do. Theirs is a lonely boat. But with God, they can and will find a solid shoreline.
And what of you dear one? Do you find yourself rowing and rowing and rowing, wondering if you will ever find solid ground on the other side of the murky, wave-tossed waters? Wondering if anyone sees your heart’s longing for more of God and less of everything else. If so — here’s your true truth — God sees you.
He cares.
He will be your cornerstone and your Rock of Ages.
You are not alone.
Angels see you rowing, and they’re eager for HIS command to come to your aid. You just must trust Him.
No looking to the left or the right.
In the new year of 2026 — let’s put our everything into focusing fully on whatever boat He places us in, and whichever way He tells us to row.
It might be a pleasant ride or it might be a grueling row. But more than likely it will be a completely GOD SIZED river you’ll find yourself rowing in. He likes it that way. :) He knows you will only make it through if you call on Him.
James, the half-brother of Christ, said it so well. We would be wise to let him coach us as we row. James 1:2-6
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
(and perhaps they quit rowing, giving the high waves a chance to sink them)
Hopefully 2025 has taught us many valuable lesson. To let go of the my-way-gps. To row without ceasing. To surrender the journey to HIM.
Remembering always — we are not home yet.
Here…we row.
In Heaven there’ll be no more rowing.
Until then, set it up, hands on, ready all, row.
