Digging Deeper: Peace in the Boat

I find comfort in the fact that the disciples were not out on that lake because they had made a poor decision. They weren’t wandering around, trying to figure out which direction to go. Jesus had told them what to do. He said, “Let’s cross this lake together.” And they followed Him.

Sometimes, I think we mistakenly believe that when we are walking in God’s will, everything should fall into place. We expect the road to be smooth, the decisions to be clear, and the journey to unfold without too many surprises. We think obedience should somehow protect us from the unexpected. But the disciples were obedient, and the storm still came.

Maybe you’ve experienced something similar. You prayed about a decision. You asked God to guide you. You did your best to follow His leading, and yet here you are, facing circumstances you never anticipated. Maybe a relationship became difficult, a door closed, a financial burden appeared, or someone you love began walking through a season of pain. And you find yourself asking, “Lord, I thought I was following You. Why is this so hard?”

I’ve learned that following Jesus doesn’t mean I will never encounter a storm. It means I don’t have to face the storm alone.

When Jesus invited the disciples to cross the lake, He knew the journey they were about to take. The wind that surprised them did not surprise Him. The waves that frightened them did not diminish His authority.

That is where my peace must begin—not in the belief that everything will go exactly as I planned, but in the confidence that Jesus is trustworthy even when it doesn’t go the way I thought it would.

When I look back at past experiences, I can identify moments when I thought I wouldn’t make it through. There were seasons when I couldn’t see a way forward, when my heart was heavy, and when the answers I wanted did not come as quickly as I hoped. Yet, somehow, by God’s grace, I made it through those moments. He sustained me, strengthened me, and carried me when I didn’t have the strength to carry myself.

I’m sure you can look back at moments in your life and say the same.

You may not have understood every twist and turn, but you can remember His faithfulness. You can remember the prayers He answered, the strength He supplied, and the moments when peace found you in the middle of uncertainty.

So today, as you step into whatever lies ahead, carry peace with you. Not because you know everything will be perfect, but because you know the One who goes with you.

You don’t have to know how the journey will unfold to trust the One who invited you on it.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being faithful, even when life doesn’t unfold the way we expected. Thank You for every time You have carried us through a difficult season and for the strength You gave us when we felt weak. Help us remember that following You does not mean we will never face a storm. It means we can trust You in the middle of it.