What does the normal push and pull of a regular, unspectacular workday have to do with Jesus’ miracles?
We all experience the more extreme ups and downs of life at work, but we don’t live there most of the time. We usually live somewhere in the middle.
Jesus once sent his disciples on a routine crossing of the Sea of Galilee, to go ahead of Him to their next place of ministry. It was at night, Jesus was alone on the shore, and, the Gospel of Mark tells us, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.” (6:48) They weren’t in a storm. They weren’t about to wreck or sink. They didn’t fear for their lives. It was just tough going, and they were trying to get the job done by getting from point A to point B.
But the disciples were straining at the oars.
What did Jesus do? “He went out to them, walking on the lake.” They were afraid when they saw him. So, “immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.” (6:48-51)
Notice that Jesus did not come to perform a lifesaving rescue. He can do that, and had done it (see Mark 4). But this time, he was watching from the shore and saw that the going was hard. They were straining at the oars. We do that a lot, too, don’t we?
Jesus cares and Jesus comes even when we are not about to go under, or about to lose our faith, or about to fold under a crisis. Maybe it’s just hard work on a hard day. We’re straining at the oars. He sees us, cares about us, comes to us, and gets in the boat with us. And all the while, he reassures us, “Take courage. It is I.” When he climbs in the boat with us, the wind dies down, and we’re able to make it to the next place He wants us to be.
It might be just an ordinary workday with its ordinary challenges. It might feel like you’re rowing into the wind in choppy waters and not making much progress. Look for Jesus. He sees, and He knows. He has authority over every wind and wave. He will reveal himself as God right where you sit and work. He is the one who will get you to the destination—not you. It doesn’t have to be a raging, life threatening storm for him to care and come to you. Let Him in the boat. Let him take care of the weather. And keep rowing.
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