MidnightOrangeBlog

‘GOD WILL STEER, BUT YOU MUST ROW’

I saw this in a comment beneath a reel on Instagram a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. For me, it was one of those – imma need to stare at a wall for a moment and let this one sink in.

I think for many of us, especially in such a fast-paced digital age, we can become disillusioned with the fanciful notion that the solution to any of our ‘problems’ is some quick ‘fix’. And, more often than not, a purchasable ‘fix’. A quick scroll on TikTok will sell you 10 glossy lies about ‘the fastest weight loss pill yet’, or ‘revenge body in just a month with this home pilates kit!’ Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for betterment and self-help, but these things can only go so far in addressing the root of one’s ‘problems’.

A related note: I have been listening to a lot of health and nutrition podcasts lately, and they’ve really hit the nail on the head for me. The main takeaway message is that there’s next to no point in buying expensive supplements or vitamins if your eating habits and lifestyle don’t match up. For example, you could swallow all the Lion’s Mane in the world, but it won’t make a blind bit of difference to your brain health if you never exercise, if all you eat is ultra-processed foods, binge drink regularly, and don’t prioritise healthy sleep habits. Sounds like common sense, right? Well… as I get older, I’m coming to realise that ‘common sense’ is not all that common.

You see, I saw a link between these podcasts and the sentiment behind the Instagram comment. For lack of conscious effort, commitment, consistency, and discipline concerning one’s faith and relationship with God can lead to (in extreme cases) a complete crisis of faith…

I’m aware it may sound reductionist or like a bit of a hot take, but it’s my belief that such drastic surrender is entirely unnecessary. Not that there aren’t situations where all one can do is let their knees hit the ground and ask God to cover us for a while, of course! But in day-to-day scenarios, such as procrastinating on signing up for the gym, being caught in the vicious cycle of living for the weekend, etc. Well, then ‘God will steer, but YOU MUST ROW’. 

So, much like pharmaceuticals – in this example – God, religion, faith, they are not cure-alls or corner-cutting ‘fixes’. Rather, they’re more like a catalyst for change, for growth, healing and betterment. But the onus is on us to meet them halfway and actively live our lives in line with their guidance and teachings.