Jesus Comes to Me in My Storm

In Mark 6:48 I ready, “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” (NLT)

I’ve had storms blow my life off course. In Mark 6, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him to Bethsaida while he went off by himself to pray. It wasn’t a long trip by boat, but they were blown off course by a storm. When Jesus saw them struggling against the wind in the middle of the lake, he came to their aid.

Is my life today feeling like the disciples?

Maybe I had no intention of being where I am in my job, relationships, or finances. I’ve been blown off course by situations I couldn’t control. I feel like I should be at my original destination by now, but at this point I’ve given up hope of getting there. I just want to get back to safety.

Or perhaps I had big dreams for my life that I gave up on a long time ago. I’m not even worried about progress anymore. I’m just wondering, “Can I survive?”

What does Jesus do when I’m at my moment of desperation? Mark 6:48 says, “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (NLT). Notice that he didn’t tell the disciples to come to him. He knew they couldn’t get to him. So he went to them instead. The same is true for me. When I’m at my point of desperation, Jesus comes to me!

I love the fact that Jesus did not stand on the shore and shout instructions. When I’m in a storm, I don’t need advice. I need a miracle! I need somebody to show up, and that’s what Jesus did. He intervened in the disciples’ storm.

This is the Gospel: God doesn’t stand on the shoreline telling me what to do; instead, he comes out and meets me in my own storm, my own pain, fear, depression, and discouragement. He comes to me. What a God!

I may feel abandoned right now, but I’m not. The Bible says in John 14:18, “I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you” (TLB). I can count on it!

In summary, in the disciples' time of need, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” Like the disciples experienced, I’ve had storms blow my life off course. Maybe I had no intention of being where I am in my situation. I’ve been blown off course by things I couldn’t control. I feel like I should be at my original destination by now, but at this point I’ve given up hope of getting there. I just want to get back to safety. Or perhaps I had big dreams for my life that I gave up on a long time ago. I’m not even worried about progress. I’m just wondering, “Can I survive?” What does Jesus do when I’m at my moment of desperation? He didn’t tell the disciples to come to him. He knew they couldn’t get to him. So he went to them. The same is true for me. When I’m at my point of desperation, Jesus comes to me! Jesus does not stand on the shore and shout instructions. When I’m in a storm, I don’t need advice. I need a miracle! I need somebody to show up, and that’s what Jesus did. He intervened in the disciples’ storm and will intervene in mine as well. I may feel abandoned, but I’m not.

I need to consider if my heart is hardened against Jesus? I can be informed about what his Word says, and I can be amazed at how he has worked in other people's lives, but refuse to believe he will come to my aid in my time of trouble. This is a hard-hearted rejection of Christ's ability to help. Instead, "take courage," and trust that he is there for me. If I ask, Jesus will come to me.  Father, I ask Jesus to come to me in my frustration over my current job role. I know it will come to an end in a few months, but I need your miracle to put me into the role you have for me. Meanwhile, I’ll need to be patient. I ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interaction with others, my future job role and leading the small group well. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.