In my neck of the woods there is a coming-of-age experience that many young people go through: Learning how to paddle a canoe.

I remember my dad telling me to get into the back. He got into the front and off we went. It didn’t go very well! He paddled as he normally would, but we just kept going in circles because I wasn’t a strong paddler yet and didn’t know how to steer!

Well, of course, the canoeists among us will know that a strong paddler needs to be in the back.  

So after we got a bit dizzy, we carefully switched spots. What followed was a much better experience! I couldn’t steer well, but he could. I didn’t have the strength the canoe needed, but he did. He knew the map, I didn’t.

So it is with Jesus. Jesus needs to be in the back of the canoe.

By ourselves, we can’t steer through life, but he can. We don’t have the strength we need, but he does. And he knows the map way better than we do!

But how do we let Jesus do his work in the back of our canoe?

In John 10:27 Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The way to invite Jesus into the back of your canoe is to listen to his voice and follow him.

Do you feel like you’re paddling in circles? Do you feel like you’re out of strength and without a map? Listen to Jesus’ voice and follow him.

By ourselves, we can’t steer through life, but he can. We don’t have the strength we need, but he does. And he knows the map way better than we do!

Jesus needs to be in the back of the canoe.

By Matthew Ruttan

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–Bible quotes are from the NIV.