I’ve been thinking about that For King & Country song “Burn the Ships” lately, and how it connects to one of the most decisive moments in history. When Cortés landed in Mexico, he ordered his ships burned. No retreat. No backup plan. No “let’s see how this goes and maybe head home if it gets tough.”
Just forward. Just faith. Just the mission ahead.
The Comfort of Backup Plans
There’s something both terrifying and liberating about that image. Because if we’re honest, most of us live with one foot in our calling and one foot in our escape route. We say yes to what God’s asking of us, but we keep our old patterns, our familiar comforts, our “just in case” alternatives right within reach.
I know I do this. When God calls me toward something uncomfortable – deeper trust, harder conversations, staying put when I want to run – I find myself unconsciously keeping those ships in the harbor. The ship of “I can handle this myself.” The ship of “maybe there’s an easier way.” The ship of “what if I just tried this other thing instead?”
When Quiet Feels Like Permission to Flee
Here’s what I’ve noticed about myself: when things get quiet in my spiritual life, when there’s no dramatic calling or obvious next step, I get antsy. That stillness starts feeling like permission to shake things up, to chase after something that feels more immediate, more controllable.
Maybe it’s a new project that promises quick results. Maybe it’s diving headfirst into some self-improvement plan that makes me feel productive. Maybe it’s pursuing recognition or success in ways that seem harmless but slowly pull my focus away from what I know to be true and good.
The problem isn’t the desire for growth or improvement. The problem is when those desires become my master instead of my offering to the Master I’m supposed to be serving.
The Ships We Need to Burn
Hebrews 11:25 talks about choosing “to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” But maybe the verse that hits closer to home is Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
The ships I need to burn aren’t always dramatic or obviously sinful. They’re the subtle alternatives that whisper “this might be better” when God is asking me to stay the course. They’re the backup plans that promise easier paths when the calling requires uncomfortable growth.
Success. Recognition. The illusion of control. The addiction to “doing something” when God might be asking me to simply be still and trust.
The Daily Decision
Here’s what I’m learning: burning ships isn’t a one-time dramatic gesture. It’s a daily choice. Every morning, I have to decide again whether I’m going to trust God’s timing and direction, or whether I’m going to keep those escape routes ready just in case.
When the calling feels uncomfortable, do I lean into it or start looking for alternatives?
When things are quiet, do I rest in that space or immediately start stirring up activity to feel more in control?
When God’s plan seems slow or unclear, do I wait with open hands or start making my own plans?
The Freedom in Surrender
There’s something beautiful that happens when you finally burn those ships. When you stop serving the master of your own timeline, your own comfort, your own version of success. When you choose to trust that God’s calling – even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s quiet, even when it doesn’t make sense – is better than any backup plan you could devise.
It’s scary. But it’s also incredibly freeing.
Because when you’re not constantly looking over your shoulder at other options, you can finally move forward with your whole heart. When you’re not dividing your energy between God’s plan and your backup plans, you can pour everything into what He’s actually asking of you.
The Invitation Forward
Maybe you know what ships you need to burn. Maybe they’re obvious – the habits, relationships, or pursuits that are clearly pulling you away from God. Or maybe they’re subtler – the “just in case” alternatives that seem innocent but keep you from fully surrendering to His plan.
Either way, the invitation is the same: burn the ships. Choose today to serve one Master. Trust that His plan – even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s quiet – is better than any alternative you’re keeping in reserve.
The journey forward might be uncertain, but at least it’s forward. And sometimes, that’s exactly where faith begins.
What ships do you find yourself reluctant to burn? What backup plans keep you from fully surrendering to God’s calling in your life?
Sprinkle some joy in the comments! 🎨