So I was reading my devotion this morning, and it directed me to read from John chapter 6, specifically verses 16-24, where the Bible talks about Jesus walking on water.
Reading it, verses 16-21 really stood out to me:
“When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading” (John 6:16-21).
It got me thinking about how the blowing wind and rough waters that the disciples were so terrified of seem a lot like a metaphor about life to me.
It’s true—life gets scary, trials blow in our faces and whip our hair around us, daily struggles overcome us and build up and suddenly there are great waves crashing all around and we feel as though we may drown if someone doesn’t step in and save us.
How often during those times, however, do we turn to Jesus?
And the thing is, he’s always right there with us, walking on the stormy water, calmly to our flooding boat.
But still, we are frightened, just as the disciples were.
In these times, I often find myself thinking, “Okay, God, I know you tell me that you’ve got this but do you really? These waves seem too rough and too scary to me.”
And they are for us. But not for Jesus.
Verse 20 tells us that Jesus comforted his disciples in this time of terror by saying, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” And it was then that the disciples, “were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading” (verse 21).
And that’s just it, friends. When we let Jesus into our boat, how often do we find comfort in his presence and confidence in his promises?
How often does our boat, “immediately reach the shore where we were heading”?
And all we have to do is just let him in.
But sometimes it’s not immediately. Sometimes our boat won’t reach the shore until next week, or next year, or in ten years but his promise is still the same.
When we let Jesus into our boat, he takes the wheel and steers us where we need to go.
Sometimes it’s to the safety of the shore. Other times, however, it’s straight into the eye of the storm, which is definitely scarier but God’s purpose is still the same- to do it all for OUR GOOD. (See Romans 8:28).
Let us trust Him, then. Whether it means docking on the shore or braving the stormy waves for awhile longer, we can still do it all through Him who gives us strength. (See Philippians 4:13).
