Jesus made his disciples get into the storm!

Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were filled, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them he went off into the hills to pray. When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. He could see they were worn out with rowing, for the wind was against them; and about the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the lake. He was going to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the lake they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they had all seen him and were terrified. But he at once spoke to them, and said, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. They were utterly and completely dumbfounded, because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed.

Food for thought!

This is a revealing gospel. Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, which was bound for a storm! Think about it: it was Jesus that sent them into the storm. Why would he do this to his beloved disciples? Why does Jesus send us into storms and problems and difficulties? Well, I think the answer is at the end of the same gospel: "because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed." The disciples had not understood the meaning of the miracle of the multiplication of bread; their minds were still closed.

And because they had not understood, Jesus "made them get into the boat" destined into a storm. As someone said, "We must remember in our most desperate moments in life that it is God who has often led us to the very place we cry out from [. . .] the place where we face impossibilities. And God has led us to this place to teach us a much needed lesson in our walk of faith — we cannot deliver ourselves from a crisis that God himself has orchestrated. Too often , it is by His design that we are in the [...] midst of an overwhelming situation."

In other words, if you are in some difficult situation, if you are struggling with some storms, like the disciples were doing that night, remember that whatever you’re going through, God is in it. He has allowed the circumstances that have brought you to it. Like Jesus did with the disciples - he made them get into the boat that was heading into a storm. The gospel says that as the disciples were fighting with the wind, Jesus was watching them: "He could see they were worn out with rowing, for the wind was against them."

The Lord is increasing your faith by threatening to destroy it. He has put you where you are. He has good reason for it . . . you are being tested. He sees that you are worn out with rowing, because of your problems. Don’t give into despair . . . know that God is in it and He does care. Know that even though He may be silent, it is in His silence that He is speaking. God’s Silence is NOT His Absence. And out of sight does not out mind!

Jesus said, “Be sure of this: I am with you ALWAYS, until the end of time.” If you’re trusting in that promise, then you can be assured that as you go through your storms, God is in them. God is never late, and He’s usually not early . . . He’s always right on time. The gospel says that "about the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the lake." Wait on Jesus, he will come at the right moment.

So God led the people around by the desert road . . . (Exodus 13: 18)