Fix the Boat Already!

I have a pair of boots that I love. Snow boots are generally clunky and utilitarian--no offense. Last year, however, I found some boots with a little bling, a necessity to make clunky snow boots become a cute fashion statement.

There is only one problem with these boots: they leak. That's kind of a big no-no when it comes to snow boots. They worked brilliantly last year, but pulling on them with all my might in order to get them off must've detached the soles from the rest of the boot.

I tried shoe glue to no avail. (Don't blame the shoe glue; it was probably user error.)

My leaky boots remind me of the time my friend went out on a paddle boat. Twenty yards from shore, her son asked, "Mom, should there be water in the boat?"

The boat had a leak! Not wanting to go for a swim in 40 degree weather, she struggled to turn the boat around. Because he didn't want the fun they had been having to end, her son fought against her. "Mom, I can just dump the water out with this cup. We can keep enough of the water out until our time is up."

His mom wisely responded, "This leak won't fix itself and we can't dump out enough water with that cup to stay afloat for much longer."

I see too many people deal with hurts this way. They have a hole in their heart from the pain that they try to fix with food, alcohol, or relationships. Eventually their efforts to fix the pain are just not enough to keep them afloat and . . . they start to sink.

God is waiting with open arms for us to turn our leaky boat--our broken heart--over to Him. He alone is capable of healing our hurt. He alone can make us whole again. That's why He sent His Son.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:1‬ (‭ESV‬‬)

Instead of trying to just stay afloat or avoid the pain with distractions, let's get our boats back to shore. Turn to Him, so He can bind up your broken heart.