That song, Burn the Ships, by For King and Country has burned a hole in my brain this week. I finally know why. Here is my feeble attempt to convey.

Gulls cry and circle from above. Lying back against the bottom of the tiny rowboat, her dark circled eyes close, possibly for the last time. Lifting her face and outstretched arms, her gauntness leans toward the warmth of the sunshine. It calls to her, “You are mine.”

The wings of a nearby gull, splash a fine mist of ocean spray upon her upturned face. Her tongue tastes the salt upon parched, cracked lips. She is dehydrated. Tired. Given up.

Hearing it again, she pops one eye open—It is nearer. A voice. Opening both eyes now, she props up a little and scans the horizon. Not seeing at first, but a lone figure finally comes into view—walking onto the ocean towards her.

Has she finally gone mad in her dilemma? Lost all sense of reality? As the figure got even closer, every part of her being questioned…Could it be her beloved? Fixing her eyes upon Him, her heart skips a beat. Could it really be him after all these days? It was! She would recognize those intense eyes anywhere— still burning with deep love for her. How could this be? Hadn’t he stopped caring? Left her alone here. Not even bothered to come looking for her after all this time?

“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”
‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭KJV‬

She stands up and leans over the boat, hugging him tightly, not wanting to ever let him go. Then, her anger getting the best of her, she spat, “Why haven’t you come before now? Didn’t you hear me calling? You promised you would never leave me!” Hot tears flowed down her cheeks, their salt burning her already sunburned skin.

“I’ve come now. It is enough.” I am here now, my beloved.“

“Does it even matter now? She shouted, isn’t it just a little too late? You should have come days ago!”

“My timing is perfect. I am never late,” he stayed matter-of-factly.

“Well, I really don’t like your timing at all! Don’t you see the pain I have been in, what I’ve been through? Just look at me! I’m ugly now! Look at all the sores and the stench! I am so ashamed to be in this state! What was the purpose? I never asked for any of this, anyways!”

“Don’t be afraid. I am here now to save you. Redeem you. Don’t you see I have been here all along? The waters didn’t overtake you. You never drowned. And now I am calling you away from this place. Come away with me love. It is time.”

She looked once again, fixed her eyes upon his countenance and let all the sadness and pain melt away. She was ready! She was ready to leave this place. Her spirit was refreshed.

“There is just one more thing to do, my dear,” he said, handing her a match. “Burn the bridges, come away with me and don’t look back.”

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1, 18-19‬ ‭KJV‬

She lit the match and tossed it into the cesspool of the once upon a times, the could-have-beens, the mistakes, the what-ifs. There was no more anger and questioning, as she let go all her doubts and drowned them into the ocean.

“You are beautiful now my love! I have given you beauty for ashes! And he took her by the hand.

They danced upon the waters—smiling and laughing as they passed through the last departing rays of sun. The boat burning behind them. No regrets. No sad goodbyes. Only happy tears.

***After writing this, I have felt the need to go back and add another paragraph to this. I see a new and alternative viewpoint for this! For some of you, it will be Jesus walking on that water towards you, but for others, it will be a husband. The healed version that God has promised in your marriage.

Here is the link to the song again if you want to give another listen….

For so long, there have been wives (and vice verse) out there who have had to carry the torch, so to speak. You have had to be the strong one living for God. Taking your kids to church by yourself. Praying by yourself. And then there are some of you who are single mothers, divorced or widowed who have had to do it all alone, without any help from a companion. One day, in God’s timing He will send that prince your way, a godly man, a help-meet. And then are some who are still single, wondering why God hasn’t sent the one. Don’t settle for less, wait on God’s timing for a godly man. Then there are some who are too young, but wishing for that boyfriend. Don’t rush perfection. God is preparing him, just like He is you. Hang in there women of courage!

Burn the Ships