When was the last time hearing the lyrics of a song led you to conduct an internet search to answer the following question: How long does it take to Build a Boat? I’m flabbergasted if that was not an item on your week’s to-do list! (Insert sarcasm here). If you don’t track with the connections my mind makes between random concepts, that is certainly understandable, because often I do not comprehend at times where my mind is going either, but let’s give this idea a try and see if you think I’m completely off my rocker. Perhaps when navigating a Tough Season, I’m looking extra hard for any message God wants to offer, but song lyrics and Scripture seem to always hit the mark. So, please allow me to share.

How long does it take to Build a Boat? That’s a difficult question for the internet to answer without some details, so let’s provide some specifics. How long did it take the Colorado company to build the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky? The answer would be six years. If you have not visited the full-size replica of Noah’s Ark, it’s interesting and just leads me to ask many more questions about how life worked back then. Another: How long did it take Noah to build the original ark we learn about in Genesis? Let’s go with 100 years (give or take). And my last question was slightly more difficult: How long did it take NCIS’ Jethro Gibbs to Build a Boat in his basement? Evidently, Gibbs built several in the long course of the series. Basically, the length of time will depend on what type of boat you desire—a wooden boat, a yacht, a canoe, etc. The message that is relevant here is that it takes a long time, it doesn’t happen overnight.

So, if I take the lyrics from Colton Dixon’s song Build a Boat, I see him not only sharing about the faith of the original shipwright, Noah, but also of how God’s promises to Noah apply to me in the present. He is faithful in His promises, but I need to partner with Him to prepare for the Tough Seasons that will arrive in my life. Noah couldn’t wait until it rained to start construction, he was required to prepare in advance for the rain (weather that was unknown to them), and neither could I. Just as Noah began the process in the middle of the desert, the preparations I needed to weather this current storm began years ago through practicing spiritual disciplines. And it’s this aspect that I desire to encourage in you today. If you are not building a foundation with a relationship in Christ that will help you “navigate the currents underneath,” then I plead with you to begin to Build a Boat, because it will rain!

Dixon’s lyrics include: I will Build a Boat in the sand where they say it never rains/I will stand up in faith, I’ll do anything it takes/With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades/I’ll Build a Boat in the desert place/And when the flood and the water starts to rise, yeah/I’ll ride the storm ‘cause I got You by my side/With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades/I’ll Build a Boat so let it rain.

“I’ll Build a Boat, so let it rain.” With the assured promises that if I place my trust in Him, if I obey Him and Build a Boat, I do not have to fear when it rains, storms, or floods. He will Never Let Go. I can rest deeply in the Holy Confidence that He’s got me, and He will walk me through this season because he desires an abundant and flourishing life for all of us.

References:

Gates, C. & Floorwalker, M. (2024, March 6). The truth about the boat Gibbs is building on NCIS. Looper. Retrieved from https://www.looper.com/195129/the-truth-about-the-boat-gibbs-is-building-on-ncis/

Mosley, S.D., Dixon, C., Cavazza, S., Lindbrant, J., & Gormley, M. (2022). Build a boat. [Song]. Atlantic Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjaKKAsQc34

Samson, B. (2023, February 13). How long does it take to build a wooden boat? Lake Wizard. Retrieved from https://www.lakewizard.com/post/it-take-to-build-wooden-boat