Drifting Into God
One weekend in high school, a few close friends and I went to our coconut farm in Dinipan, about seven miles from our town of Casiguran, Aurora. We were young and fearless, so we decided to take a canoe. The trip there was easy, filled with laughter and endless stories.
On the way back, the tide changed, and the wind grew stronger, making the waves bigger, which often happens late in the day. Our canoe was packed with coconuts, bananas, and anything else we could fit. We kept joking as we paddled through the rough water until, finally, a strong wave flipped us over.
At first, none of us panicked. We laughed, floated, and had a little fun for this adventure. But after drifting for a while, we realized we had to do something. Working together, we flipped the canoe upright, emptied the water, and slowly made our way back.
That experience has stayed with me because it taught me something important. Drifting is easy, but having direction is not.
When it comes to our relationship with God, drifting does not bring us closer to Him. The Bible often talks about being intentional. In Deuteronomy 6:6–9, God tells His people to make His Word part of their daily lives, to think about it, talk about it, and share it. Proverbs 22:6 talks about shaping lives on purpose, not just hoping for the best. Psalm 1:1–2 describes someone who thinks about God’s law all the time, not just once in a while. In 1 Timothy 4:7–8, Paul compares spiritual growth to training, something you have to practice on purpose. In Colossians 3:16, he encourages believers to let Christ’s message fill their lives, shaping both their personal faith and their worship together.
Ellen White’s counsel about this is clear (SC, 71): “When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ…”
If you feel like you have been drifting spiritually, try taking one simple step today. Set aside a few minutes to read a short passage of Scripture and think about it. Do this not just to check it off a list, but to start moving with purpose toward God.
-Pastor Lim
