“Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on
ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he
went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake,
and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples
straining at the oars, because the wind
was against them.”
―Mark 6:45-48a NIV
Our ship left Prince Edward Island and sailed up the
Gulf of St. Lawrence toward Quebec City. The waters were relatively calm,
considering we’d left Boston on the heels of Hurricane Earl.
The night’s
forecast—a strong gale and rain.
We hadn’t interpreted strong gale to mean 70 mph winds and 50 foot waves that would rock us sleepless. Perhaps
that night, I experienced some of the same emotions the disciples did in their
storm.
After a full day of ministry, the disciples waited in the boat for Jesus.
Would the throngs of people ever leave? Moments must have felt like hours
as the storm clouds gathered overhead. Imagine their readiness as Jesus gave
them the green light to go ahead of him to the other side of the lake. Serving their Master was invigorating. A few
storm clouds would never dampen their spirits.
Then...the storm rolled in.
The disciples were vulnerable
and afraid. As the waters threatened to overtake their small boat, they struggled to
stay on course. Surely Jesus knew the storm was coming. Why would he send them
out to face it alone?
Where was Jesus when they needed him?
Mark 6 addresses the common misconception that following God assures
smooth sailing. Jesus wasn’t oblivious to the storm. He sent the disciples out knowing they would encounter it. Uprooting them from their comfort zones
and placing them in a situation which required extreme faith, would reveal
their weaknesses, strengthen their spiritual muscles, and ultimately summon
them to new depths of dependency on him. The experience would allow them to see the futility of braving life’s difficulties
in their own strength.
Jesus ordained the storm, but his compassion for his disciples
transcended it.
Although the disciples lost sight of Jesus, he never lost sight of them. From the mountain, he watched and prayed to his Heavenly
Father for their safety and at just the right moment, he intervened.
Storms come to us all—even believers.
We’re
not sheltered from them, but
we are sheltered in them. Perhaps, you’re experiencing opposition as you strive to
do God’s will? Are you straining at the oars? Can you relate to the futility of self-effort? Don’t allow storm clouds to
dampen your spirits.
Rest in the following truths.
Jesus’s eye is always on
you.
His prayers continually cover you.
He will meet you in the waters of
your adversity.
Rejoice!
Help is on the way.
Now its your turn. What is one of your go-to scriptures when storms threaten to capsize your ship.
I always welcome your comments.
