Mark 6:45-48 describes the story of Christ coming to the rescue of His disciples on the storm-tossed sea. The story begins with confusion– these men were in the storm and the will of God at the same time. That tends to confuse us because we think the second should exempt us from the first. Obviously it doesn’t. However the story ends with comfort. Not only were His followers comforted by the calming of the storm, we are comforted as well–because we see in this a picture of ourselves. J. R. Miller wrote:
Jesus did not come immediately; indeed, it was almost morning when He came, and the disciples had been struggling all night in the storm. Yet He had not been indifferent to them meanwhile. From the mountainside where He was praying — He kept His eye upon them. He saw that they were in serious trouble. All that dark night, He kept a watch upon that little boat that bore His disciples in the midst of the waves.
There is something very suggestive in the narrative. This ‘boat in the storm’, is a picture of ‘Christ’s friends in this world, in the storms of life’. Sometimes we think we are forgotten — but from His place in glory, Christ’s eye is always on us! He sees us struggling, battling with the waves, beaten, and distressed. He has full sympathy with us in all our struggles. It ought to be a great strength and comfort to us in trial, to know this. Jesus intercedes for us in our distresses!
It may not be best always to deliver us immediately — but His prayer continually ascends, that our faith may not fail in the struggle. This also should encourage us.
Then, He always comes in time. He may delay long — but it is never too long. If we call upon Him in trouble — we may be sure that He hears and sees us, and knows just how hard it is for us to endure; that He prays for us that we may not fail, and that He will come at the right time for our deliverance!
