Jesus Is the Answer When Life Is Hard

John 6

It was evening, that most tranquil time in Galilee. Jesus had just fed the 5,000. He withdrew to a mountain to pray and sent His disciples to go across the Sea of Galilee.

Then the wind began to rise.

If you have smooth sailing now, sooner or later things will reverse, and the wind is going to blow. Life is hard. But here are anchors that will help you to ride out the storm. 

God’s Providence

When you find yourself in the storms of life, the first thing you need to say is this: “I am governed by God’s providence.”

This storm in John 6 did not take the Lord Jesus by surprise. (See Psalm 107:25.) The disciples were not in the boat because they were out of the will of God. They were there because they were in the will of God. Nothing comes to you that He does not cause. God has not relinquished His rule upon His Universe.

God’s Plan

What is God’s plan for you? God wants to enlarge you, not indulge you. God is not merely interested in making you happy and healthy; He is making you holy. So, God will put you into trouble.

The Lord Jesus engineered these problems for His disciples because He wanted to develop them. When you develop most spiritually is when your old friend trouble comes along. Faith is developed best in the dark.

You will never grow until you eat the bread that God sets before you—and often, it is trouble. To grow, you have to have difficulty. 

God’s Prayers

When Jesus sent the disciples down to the sea and He went up to the mountain, He had a vantage point. He saw the whole thing. (See Mark 6:46-48.) He saw them rowing. He saw the clouds begin to roil. He saw the waves begin to rise. The disciples may not have known Jesus had His eye upon them, but He did.

And what was He doing up there? Jesus was praying. He was interceding for them. (See Hebrews 7:25.)

God’s Presence

So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid” (John 6:19-20).

Why did He not come sooner? Imagine the disciples, with their backs aching from rowing, looking into a watery grave and asking, “Where is Jesus?”

He came strategically, at the right time. “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you” (Isaiah 30:18a). He had a plan, and God’s plan was the greater glory. God is never late, never ahead of time, never in a hurry. 

God’s Power

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:26-27).

What He literally said was, “Do not be afraid; I AM.” He used the name Jehovah, the most sacred name to the Jews. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He is I AM. This name is a proclamation of God’s presence, and a promise of abundance.

God has not promised you smooth sailing. But, Christians, He has promised you a safe landing.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).