When Jesus Comes Into Your Boat

One summer our family was vacationing at a quaint seaside village. We walked around the harbor one day and my husband, Bill, and teenage son, Alex, decided to take a kayak lesson from the boat shop on the pier. Bill and Alex and two instructors had just paddled out from the harbor towards the open sea when the clouds suddenly changed from blue to smoldering, smoky gray. The sky got dark. And it began to pour. The instructors yelled to my husband and son to quickly paddle to shore- and they did, making it just in time. They had almost been caught in a bad storm.

Many of us have had a similar experience with getting in “a boatload of trouble.” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and besieged by problems. Often the challenges and tasks we face seem above and beyond what we feel we’re capable of. Rocky seas, a strong wind, and a storm-tossed boat do not make for a settled stomach and a peaceful mind.

I don’t like to be in a sea of trouble, and I certainly don’t like to feel alone in a boat. Jesus’ disciples in John 6:15-21 had a similar problem. They were at sea, tossed by the wind, and waiting for Jesus to come to them. It was dark. They couldn’t see their way out of the storm. We can feel like that- that all is dark and overwhelming and too much to handle. I don’t think they were feeling faith-filled. But when you are in a boat load of trouble, you don’t need feelings of faith, you just need faith that Jesus will come to you!

And He did. They saw Jesus walking on the sea. (Remember, nothing is too difficult for Him!) They were overwhelmed and afraid. He came close to their boat and said “It is I; do not be afraid.” But what happens next is the most reassuring faith-booster of all:

“Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately
the boat was at the land where they were going.” (John 6:21 NKJV)

In one instant, the disciples go from storm tossed sea to dry land. We can go from a sea of trouble to a place of peace- if we invite Jesus into our situation. We can immediately be at peace- because He IS our peace (Eph. 2:14). While we may have challenges still before us, we can immediately be on solid ground because of Him.

If you are overwhelmed today by a tall task or a perplexing problem, get ready for Jesus to come into your situation. Invite Him in and see not only what He does, but find out where you wind up. Be assured of this: if you invite Jesus into your situation, you can immediately be there: your destination is Him, after all.

Sail on.

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