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
Have you ever walked through something so difficult, so terrifying, that you’ve caught yourself asking, “Jesus, where are You?”
When life gets messy, at times it can feel like our Messiah has gone missing.
That’s exactly the kind of situation we find the disciples in as we read Mark 6. Right after the feeding of the five thousand, they got in a boat, and strong winds caused the water to get very rough. The disciples were straining at the oars as the realities of life beat against them.
A deeper study of the Greek word basanizó (bas-an-ID-zo), translated as “straining” here in Mark 6:48, reveals just how distressing their circumstances were. The literal translation means “to torment.” It’s a word we see used in the context of the torment caused by demon possession (Mark 5:7). Mark clearly wanted to emphasize the serious turmoil and struggle these men were facing.
This storm terrified them. The waves weren’t just ebbing, cresting, and crashing like you’ve probably seen if you’ve ever been in rough waters. These waves were bubbling up and exploding all around them in unpredictable ways. They couldn’t brace themselves or their boat. They were completely helpless and swallowed up by fear.
I certainly can’t blame them for being afraid at that moment. Sometimes it’s hard not to be completely consumed by fear, isn’t it? Especially when life feels hopeless.
Oh, how thankful I am that even when our storms cause us to lose sight of hope, Jesus never loses sight of us.
While the disciples were straining in the boat, Jesus was praying on the mountainside. From where He stood, Jesus saw the disciples in the middle of the lake: “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 want us to notice Jesus’ response to the disciples who missed Him and who cried out in fear, not faith. The scripture says that immediately (I love that it was immediate) He spoke to them and said, “Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50). He didn’t criticize them for being afraid. He climbed into the boat with them.
He’s saying the same thing to you and me. He’s not running from us in our fears. He’s climbing in to be right there with us. And with His presence comes peace.
He wants us to see Him, sweet friend. He wants us to know Him—a truth we discover not just in this passage but all throughout Scripture. The same God who willingly revealed Himself to people in the Bible wants to reveal the fullness of His peace and the power of His presence to us as well.
In the midst of whatever hurts and heartbreaks are disrupting our peace, I pray we will see Him coming. We no longer have to cry out in fear; we can call out in faith. Calm and trusting. Because we know. We know He sees us. We know He’s for us. We know He’s in control.
As we sleep tonight, the Lord is near. We are safe. We are loved. We are seen.
About the Author:
Lysa TerKeurst is president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, and It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. She writes from her family’s farm table and lives in North Carolina. Connect with her at www.LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media @LysaTerKeurst.
Excerpted from Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry by Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31, Copyright © March 2024. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/clear-mind-peaceful
