I have always been fascinated by the ocean. How could I not be when I was blessed to grow up on an island in the eastern Caribbean? Swimming, fishing, boating, beachcombing, and all that is unique to coastal life were second nature to me. While fierce storms would sometimes come, I never truly feared the sea; rather, I developed a deep appreciation — and even reverence — for its many moods.

Today I have the privilege of supporting the Adventist missionaries who call the North American Division their home. As they serve around the world, they face many unique challenges, but the lessons one can take from the sea can benefit all of us seeking to contribute to the gospel mission. 

When the ocean is like glass — quiet, calm, and serene at sunrise and sunset — it invites reflection. In such moments you can hear your own heartbeat, and enter a meditative stillness that quiets the spirit and draws you toward surrender. What a contrast to the relentless midday surf, whose loud crashing breakers mirror the demands we face during our day. Protecting the quiet times of our lives, whether in morning prayer time or during our weekly Sabbath rest, helps us establish a sacred rhythm of stillness amid chaos, an invitation to breathe deeply and simply be.

Throughout Scripture the Lord often uses large bodies of water to capture attention and advance His mission. There is the parting of the Red Sea, revealing a safe path where none existed. There is the calming of furious waves on the Sea of Galilee, reminding frightened disciples they were never sailing alone. There is also the miraculous movement of fish into a single boat’s nets, reassuring discouraged fishermen that their God transcends impossibility.

When the oceans and seas in your own journey become question marks in your mission or ministry, what do you see? Roaring waves? A looming shipwreck? Sharks circling beneath? A Red Sea with no way to cross?

Or do you blink and see something entirely different? Blinking allows us to briefly close and reopen our eyes, often to refocus or clear away distractions. Spiritually, blinking allows us to wipe away fear, refocus our vision, and see what God is revealing rather than what anxiety projects. This lesson was brought home for me recently on a long road trip that required driving after dusk. 

Although I wear prescription lenses, I had postponed my scheduled eye exam, which would have revealed that my vision had changed. While on the trip I suddenly found myself in an unfamiliar city, unable to navigate well, as I could not see directions clearly.  In that moment I realized the consequence of neglecting that necessary adjustment.

A clear spiritual lens requires intentional effort. Whether you’re in the tempest of the waves or the stillness of a peaceful sea, it means learning to see and hear God’s voice personally, allowing Scripture and trusted advisors to help refine our vision. Could this be the challenge many of us face — attempting to navigate deep waters with uncalibrated vision? 

Mission can be its own ocean of discomforting challenges: travel, surrender, confusion, and frustration. But there are infinitely more positive and redemptive outcomes for those who choose to face their ocean with God as navigator. Prayer is our powerful connection throughout.

To paraphrase Jonah 1:2: Arise, go to your Nineveh — that frightening city — and speak truth, for its actions have come before the Lord.

The shoreline feels safe and stable. It is easy to remain there, dreaming of possibilities while avoiding risk. Staying on the shore shields us from the chaos of the waves — but it also keeps us from obedience. As you seek to fulfill your call to mission, blink. Adjust your lens. Resist fear. And move forward into the ocean, trusting God to lead the way.

— Orna K. Garnett is director of Missionary Services for the North American Division.