The Lord Sees Your Struggles

Hi standers! It's Monday once again. Here's another devotional written by David from North Carolina. Read on and stay encouraged!

*************************

Recall the story of Jesus walking on the water. I heard a wonderful sermon recently that put together the details of this miraculous gospel account. We need to jump from the three accounts in Matthew 14, Mark 6 and John 6 to see the whole story, but you’ll be blessed as a result. 

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: 47-48 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve just read over that without catching a key detail. Jesus was still on land, the disciples were in the middle of the lake (probably three miles away given the size of that lake, which was the sea of Galilee), and yet Jesus SAW them straining. You may not be able to see Jesus in the storm of your marriage troubles, but never forget He does see you and He sees you straining at the oars. Now look at the account as told in Matthew. 

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Matthew 14: 22-24 

Notice also that Jesus MADE them get into the boat while He stayed behind to pray. Was Jesus caught off guard by the storm that whipped up in the middle of the lake (the sea of Galilee)? Of course not. Jesus set this all up, because He knew the miracles that He would perform. Have you ever thought that the Lord allowed your marriage struggles so that He would get the glory at some point? Just as Jesus walked out on the water to meet the disciples in the boat that was being buffeted by waves, Jesus will not delay in showing you His presence in your hour of need. Just keep your eyes on Him! Peter learned the lesson of keeping his eyes on Jesus. 

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 29-31 

When Peter had his eyes on Jesus, he was fine. When he took them off Jesus and focused on the storm, he sank. Do you see the point here? There is no water that you cannot rise above and walk on top of when you keep your eyes on Jesus. Go to Him because there is no sea or storm that He does not place under His feet. Keep your eyes on Him and invite him fully into your life (your “boat”). 

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: 20-21 

You may not know where to turn today and there seems to be so many storms raging against you and your marriage. Jesus is calling your name and telling you to not be afraid, but to experience His peace you must take Him into your boat and surrender everything to Him. Notice the last piece of this incredible story. When they took Jesus into their boat, they IMMEDIATELY reached their destination. Remember, they were still a long way from shore. This was no small miracle, but it gets lost in the whole story of Jesus walking on the water. To me, this just shows that the whole episode was orchestrated by our Lord to teach the disciples a lesson. Once the disciples saw Jesus clearly and allowed him into their boat, the lesson was learned. 
Yes, we will have difficult moments in this journey with Jesus because we have a tendency to take our eyes off Him. Cry out to Jesus in those moments just as Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus is ready to respond to anyone honestly crying out to Him for rescue. 

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 31