The Winds of Change

Jesus’ comforting words came to the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm. Just before this (v. 48) the Lord tells us that “they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.” Earlier that day, Jesus fed 20,000 people with a little boy’s lunch. It was a mountaintop experience! The disciples wanted to stay with Jesus, but He sent them away… out into a boat… in the dark of night with a storm approaching!

Have you ever wondered why He did that? Why does Jesus let us face such painful, difficult circumstances? “Does He really love us?” The disciples previously asked, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Jesus saved the disciples that night. And He is always faithful to us, too. But why does He allow us to suffer. And why can He seem so far away when we are crying out to Him? What could His purpose be? Why all the darkness and the tortuous pain? Does it mean that we are out of God’s will?

Were the disciples out of God’s will? I don’t think so. Jesus made them get in the boat! He wanted them to be there. Then, verse 52 strikes a new chord, “…for they [the disciples] did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

When revisiting the story of the loaves and fish, it’s not obvious that the disciple’s hearts were hardened. But God is the only one who really knows our hearts!

He knows we cannot learn ALL of the lessons we need to learn when times are good. He knows exactly what we need! He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), even in experiences we would never choose for ourselves.

Pray this prayer to the Lord who knows and meets our needs:

Thank You, Lord! Thank You for the hard things. Thank You for loving us so much that You, too, suffered for our good. Please help us to respond to every circumstance of life the way You want us to. Make us more like You. We love You. Amen.

This devotion provided by Mike Hare of Compassion International, Staff Chaplain and Child Advocate