Who Told You to Get in the Boat?

Read

John 16:33 “‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”

Think

Sometimes we assume that if we are doing what God wants, everything should go smoothly. You made the right decision, so things should work out. You stopped hanging out with people who were pulling you in the wrong direction, so you should not feel lonely. You decided to take your faith seriously, so temptation should get easier. You prayed about the decision, so surely the next step should be obvious.

Think back to the story you read yesterday in Mark 4. Whose idea was it to cross the lake? Jesus’.

The disciples did not get caught in the storm because they were running away from Jesus. They encountered the storm while doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. That matters because difficulty can make you question whether you are where you are supposed to be. You start thinking, “If God really wanted me here, why is this so hard?”

Difficulty is not always evidence that you made the wrong decision.

Think about trying out for a team after months of training and then sitting on the bench. You could decide all the work was pointless. Or you could recognize that perseverance is being built in you in a way it never could have been if everything came easily.

Following Jesus can be like that. Obedience does not come with a promise that the water will always be calm. Telling the truth might make a situation more uncomfortable before it gets better. Walking away from gossip might make you feel left out. Forgiving someone does not guarantee they will apologize. Following Jesus may put you at odds with what everyone around you thinks is normal.

The disciples were where Jesus told them to be, and there was still a storm. Jesus never hid this from his followers. In John 16:33 he told them plainly that they would face trouble in this world, and in the same breath told them to take courage because he has overcome the world.

So maybe the better question is not always, “Why is this difficult?” Maybe it is, “Is Jesus still leading me?” One question focuses completely on the storm. The other focuses on who is in the boat.

Think about walking through your house during a power outage. The furniture has not moved. The hallway has not changed. But without light, a place you have walked through a thousand times suddenly feels unfamiliar. Hard seasons can do that to your faith. Things you believed confidently before can suddenly feel harder to see.

That is when you remember what you knew before the lights went out. Jesus told the disciples where they were going. The storm did not cancel his direction.

You may not always be able to judge God’s faithfulness by how easy your week feels. Sometimes trusting him means continuing to obey while the wind is loud and the path is uncomfortable. Following Jesus is not about finding a life with no storms. It is about knowing who you are following when they come.

Apply

Check your direction – Think about one difficult situation you are facing. Instead of asking only, “Why is this hard?” ask, “What would obedience to Jesus look like here?” Write down one step you know is right and take it this week.

Pray

God, I sometimes assume that following you should make everything easier. Help me trust you when obedience is uncomfortable or confusing. Give me courage to keep doing what is right even when I do not immediately see the result. I want to follow you in calm seasons and hard ones. In Jesus’ name. Amen.