Learning to Row a Boat: Renewed by the Transforming of the Mind

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:2 ESV

My first experience rowing a boat was on vacation in Florida. I was about twelve years old. My parents and their friends watched me from the beach as I tried to maneuver the small vessel. I’d never rowed a boat before and struggled with using oars and the technique. It wasn’t long before I capsized. With some help, as the adults shouted instructions, I recovered, righted the boat, and rowed back to shore. Looking back on that memory, I realized many of my challenges rowing stemmed from uncertainty.

Uncertainty is hard. It can be intimidating, frightening, and too heavy to carry. However, whether it’s financial woes, health issues, or conflict, uncertainty often causes us to feel out of control.

When this happens, I feel God moving in my life. It’s as if a message scrolls across my mind. “Your regularly scheduled life has been interrupted by this Breaking News from Jesus!” There’s no warning, I didn’t see it coming, but suddenly, what once seemed certain isn’t. 

God may not have caused what’s happening in our lives, but He knew it was coming before we were born. As believers, we can trust that God will use our circumstances for good and mature our hearts in the process.

Trusting God is a lot like learning to row a boat. When the waters are rough, and we’re uncertain about what to do next, it’s best to stop, take a look around, and be still. Learn to recognize the instructions of the Savior, to discern the will of God. When we ignore the thunder of the waves of life and turn up the volume of His voice, we silence uncertainty.

Transformation allows God to renew our souls with His peaceful waters of discernment and contentment. Make room for His presence to direct our thoughts, actions, and lives. When we turn to the Holy One and trust Him, He will transform us.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father,Thank You for being a God who fights for us even when we feel weak, uncertain, and overwhelmed. Your Word reminds us that we only need to be still and trust in You. Yet so often, Lord, we grip the oars tightly, trying to control every outcome, every fear, and every storm. Today, we surrender those burdens into Your hands. Jesus, thank You for truly understanding our struggles, disappointments, and questions. Because You walked among us, You know what it means to experience pain, exhaustion, temptation, and sorrow. Help us find comfort in knowing that we are never alone. Renew our hearts with Your compassion, peace, and strength. Teach us how to make space for Your presence amid our busy lives. Quiet the noise around us so we can hear Your voice more clearly. Transform our hearts so that we seek You first rather than relying on our own understanding. Lord, open our eyes to see You in unexpected places today—in conversations, interruptions, quiet moments, and even challenges. Help us recognize Your hand at work around us and respond with undivided devotion. Draw us closer to You so that our trust deepens and our faith grows stronger. Fight the battles we cannot fight ourselves, calm the storms within us, and lead us forward in Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn: God’s Word reminds us that “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14, NIV). Stillness is not passivity; it’s trust. It is the quiet surrender of believing God is already at work in ways we can’t see.

Jesus truly understands our struggles and uncertainties. He isn’t distant from our questions or overwhelmed by our weakness. Instead, He meets us in them. That truth has the power to renew our minds and steady our hearts when everything around us feels uncertain.

So today, consider what it would take to loosen your grip on control and hand God “the oars.” What fears, plans, or outcomes are you still trying to manage in your own strength?

Imagine how your life might shift if you consistently made space for God’s presence—not just in crisis moments, but in ordinary ones. Peace grows where presence is practiced.

And as you move through your day, look for God in unexpected places. He is already there, inviting your attention, your trust, and your undivided devotion.

Where will you choose stillness today?