Rowing way too long?

If you have heard that old saying, "all in the same boat together", then you know it means we are all in the very same precarious situation. For some, the situation is that you are caught in a rapid of sorts, being tossed out of control, with little to know strength left to fight the 'current' of life's woes. You aren't in that boat alone - there are others there, too. Others are in the boat that seems to be taking way too long to get to where you are all going, growing wearier by the day as you endure the challenge of 'rowing' forever. Some might even feel like they have lost their oars and are adrift, being taken wherever the current and winds would take them. Regardless of who you are, you are not in the boat alone - there are others in similar situations, rowing, fretting, tiring just like you. 

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! (John 6:17-21)

Two things we need to see today: 1) Don't get ahead of Jesus, and 2) Be eager to let him in that boat if you do! The truth of the matter is that most of us will get ahead of Jesus on occasion - just being the impatient kind of humans we are. We will see the impending darkness, then set out on our own because we don't want to wait any longer. When we do, we are assured of two things - rowing way harder than we'd like and coming up against bigger waves and winds than we need to! Both of those conditions make me think before I ever get in the boat now, but I didn't always respond that way. In fact, I became a strong 'rower'. I did everything I could to get to the destination under my own power, not even realizing how much better it would be with Jesus in the boat with me.

As fool hearted as it is to get in the boat without Jesus, ahead of his timing, it is equally as fool hearted to resist his 'coming' when we find ourselves in the midst of the churning waters. We get ourselves into some precarious situations, then act like we have everything under control when all is amiss around us. Sometimes things are even amiss within us. To resist his presence is to ensure the storm's continued battering and the tiresome job of rowing way too long and too hard. Be eager to let him in that boat because your 'destination' is closer than you think! Just sayin!