Friday, July 4, 2014

John 6:16

When the day is done, as evening arrives, and in the absence of Jesus, His disciples decide to go out to sea. John 6:16 EFP

I am not alone in recalling moments in my life when Jesus seems absent.  I remember the sense of despondency and discouragement I felt in those moments.  My heart grew restless.  My outlook looked dark and menacing.  But the feeling I most recall is that of emptiness and abandonment.  I wonder if the disciples are feeling this.  After all, they have witnessed the events of the day and Jesus’ sudden disappearance?

It is not surprising, and quite honestly it is quite familiar, to see the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ absence.  They do not apparently go look for him.  They do not, as a lost child is counseled to do, stay and wait for the Master to return.  Just like me, they go out to sea, literally and figuratively.  They take to the sea, I sense with no particular destination in mind.  Drifting.  Heading nowhere…quickly.  One boat.  Twelve men.  This is already a recipe for havoc.  Throw in some fishermen, a zealot, a tax collector; add some immaturity and no Jesus presence, and what you have is a disaster waiting to happen.  I know.  I’ve been there.

The Lord is teaching me to wait on Him when I am tempted to believe he is gone.  He is never gone!  He not only walked the worst of my days for himself, but he walks them with me today.  I am learning to wait.

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