After reconciling himself to the actual ocean crossing and seeking ore to make tools, Nephi’s next step was to commence building the worthy vessel that would convey his entire family across the deep water to an entirely different life. In moments of uncertainty it is nice to fall back on the familiar but Nephi’s way forward would be anything but familiar. He says that as he began building the ship he did not build it “after the manner of men” but rather was instructed by the Lord on how it should be pieced together. I think this part of the story strikes at the heart of the living that we all do each day. When we realize that we are on the shores of an ocean we’d like some sort of blueprint for the boat that will take us safely across foreign waters but often God asks us to trust Him as He helps us to build our own curious ship. Like Nephi’s, your vessel may not look anything like ships you’ve see and you may not understand why certain things need be a part of it but oftentimes the wisdom of the form is revealed over time. As Nephi’s boat took shape he was ridiculed by his brothers for the unfamiliar design of his ship. In those moments where doubt was flung at him from many angles, he was invited to dive into deeper attunement with heaven and trust the revelation that he was receiving. Those, my friends, are the formative moments, where we own our own architecture with God. And the potential result of those brave moments, if we stick with the building, is a kind of soul-deep knowing that influences everything else we create with Him.
Take Action: If, in your occasions of forward progress, you have times where the deafening voices around you crowd out the whisperings of intuition and inspiration, take note and find a few quiet moments to re-align with Heaven and then tuck those moments of connection deep in your soul, stand tall and walk confidently forward knowing that you and God are building something that is strong and seaworthy to carry you purposefully across the oceans you face.
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