You Didn’t Miss God
Tuesday, October 6
You Didn’t Miss God
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side… Matthew 14:22
In Matthew 14, Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand. The disciples had witnessed something extraordinary. Yet immediately afterward, Jesus told them to get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side. They obeyed. And then came the storm. They were in the storm because they had obeyed Jesus. Isn’t that just how life feels sometimes? Even when you are walking the straight and narrow, the wind begins to blow. Sometimes we assume that if we are doing what God has called us to do, everything should become easier. But Scripture doesn’t promise that obedience will always produce smooth sailing; what it does promise is His presence with us as we sail to the other side.
Sometimes obedience puts you directly in the path of a storm. The Storm Doesn’t Always Mean You Missed God, the storm gives you an opportunity to see He is right there with you. This is important because when the winds begin to blow, we can start questioning everything:
“Did I hear God correctly?”
“Did I make the wrong decision?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have stepped out.”
“Maybe I misunderstood the calling.”
But the storm itself was not proof that they had missed God. They were exactly where Jesus told them to be. Perhaps that is where you are today. You obeyed God, and now things are difficult. You stepped out in faith, and now you’re facing resistance. You said yes to the assignment, and now you’re wondering why it has become so hard. You got in the boat, and now the waves are crashing against it. Don’t immediately assume that the storm means you are going the wrong way.
Sometimes the storm is simply part of the journey to the other side.
Prayer for today: Father, help me not to turn around simply because the journey becomes difficult. Give me the faith to keep moving forward, even when I am afraid. Remind me in these moments, just as you did with Joshua; remind me to be strong and courageous because You are with me. Teach me to trust You more than I trust the weather. Knowing that You have my best interest at heart.In Jesus’ name, amen.