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Ask God: God meets each of us where we are. Jesus walked through the storms to get to His disciples. He is always with us.

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Good Evening Reader,

Jesus walks on water and is with us.

May you be filled with Joy this day. This is the day the Lord has made!

All Glory to God.

Elvin

Jesus Meets Your Needs Where You Are

Jesus’ Presence Calms Our Fears

How often have you felt alone and fearful? The twelve disciples found themselves in this situation in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. Even though they had each other, Jesus was not with them. As the storm intensified, they became fearful. Jesus came to them, walking on the water to calm their fears and the storm.

Being in a crowd does not always negate feelings of loneliness. The disciples had each other, but that was not enough. Our comfort comes from knowing Jesus and depending on Him.

In this lesson, we again see Jesus meeting His disciples where they were. Jesus is dependable and faithful to you and me as we put our faith in Him and turn to Him for comfort.

Background

John wrote the book of John to convince readers that Jesus is the Messiah. He spells out his purpose statement in John 20:30-31, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John explicitly identifies six signs that point to Jesus as the Messiah—the Son of God. Each of the signs shows Jesus is God’s true representative. Some Bible scholars do not include Jesus’ walking on water as a sign. This event would be the seventh sign.

Earlier in the day, Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children using a young boy’s five barley loaves and two fish. The crowd was so intent on following Jesus that they did not consider what they would eat while away from their homes. The Good Shepherd took care of His sheep and met their needs.

After feeding the hungry crowd, Jesus withdrew from them because the people wanted to make Him king. Verse 15 says, “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

Jesus Walks on Water

As we read verses 16 through 21 of John, the sixth chapter, several questions come to mind for discussion that will help us understand how Jesus affects our lives. But first, let’s read John 6:16-21:

” When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”

Why do you think Jesus waited until the middle of the night to come to the disciples?

The disciples were always with Jesus. He met every need they had. But the time would come when He would not be with them physically, and they would need to exercise their faith in His absence. It was a growing process for the disciples, as it is for us. Challenges exercise our faith.

It could have been that Jesus allowed the disciples to struggle for a while before coming to them. This wasn’t because He didn’t care, but to strengthen their faith. Mark 6:48 says, “He saw them straining at the oars”—He was watching all along! Sometimes God may delay to teach us to rely on Him rather than ourselves. Like refining gold, faith is purified in testing (1 Peter 1:6-7).

In our own “storms,” we may wonder why God seems silent or distant. But His delay is never abandonment; He sees, knows, and comes in His perfect time. He meets you where we are.

How do you handle your personal “storms” in your life?

This question invites self-reflection. Many believers have felt Jesus draw close during times of loss, sickness, anxiety, or crisis. Sometimes His presence comes through Scripture, prayer, a worship song, or the encouragement of other believers. Like the disciples, we may not recognize Him immediately, but His nearness calms our fears.

We are called to pray daily to God. Sometimes it is good to just be quiet and to enjoy the presence of God. During these times, feel God’s presence and commune with Him. Isn’t this one reason God created man? Then, when those stormy times come, we can go into His presence for comfort.

Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

Why were the disciples afraid when they saw Jesus? How do we sometimes misunderstand God’s presence in hard times?

“When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.”

The disciples thought they had seen a ghost (Mark 6:49). Their fear came from misunderstanding what they had seen. They didn’t expect Jesus to come in such a miraculous way. They knew Jesus had no boat and therefore no way to go to them.

Similarly, in trials, we sometimes mistake God’s work as something threatening or frightening because it doesn’t fit our expectations.

We need to trust that even unexpected events might be God working for our good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes His answers come in unfamiliar forms, but He’s still in control.

What does it mean for us today to “receive Jesus into our boat?” How does this apply to everyday life?

When the disciples welcomed Jesus into the boat, they acknowledged their need for Him and trusted Him in the storm. For believers today, it means inviting Jesus into every area of life, not just during emergencies, but daily. It’s surrendering control, seeking His guidance, and living in dependence on Him. Practicing the presence of God grows our faith and trust in Jesus.

We should not wait for a “storm” to occur but “receive Jesus into our boat” by praying before making decisions, and trusting Him with all the affairs of life, i.e., finances, family, health. And finally, submitting our fears and anxieties to Him (Philippians 4:6-7)

Just like the disciples immediately reaching the shore, believers experience peace, direction, and strength when we let Jesus lead.

Elvin

Peter Takes His Eyes off of Jesus.

Ask God For Help

Christian faith

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin.aycock@AskGodForHelp.net and let me know what you think of the lessons.

Go to: www.AskGodForHelp.net

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