“When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” John 6:16-21 ESVV
It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them….
We all go through dark times in life, and in those moments, we desperately want Jesus to step in and illuminate the darkness. We know He is with us, for He promises to never leave us, never to forsake us; yet, for reasons we don’t understand, the darkness serves a purpose, and so it remains.
The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing….
As we navigate the seas of life, the voyage can get rough and we’re required to row against the wind. Fear and exhaustion threaten to pull us under, and we struggle just to stay afloat.
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”….
Jesus knows exactly how many miles we need to row to develop the spiritual strength and muscle He wants to give us, and when we reach that point, He immediately draws near. He lets nothing stop Him; there is no barrier He can’t cross, no water He can’t walk on! He arrives at just the right moment and reassuringly speaks the words we long to hear, “It is I, do not be afraid.”
Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going….
When our hope is fading and we begin to doubt that we’ll ever make it through the storm, Jesus arrives, climbs into the boat with us and takes us safely to the shore.
We really do serve an awesome God!