When We Are Most In Need

When We Are Most In Need

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:24-25

Christ is, at times, early, but He is never late. In the text before us, we see Christ’s arrival at a critical moment of the disciples’ experience. After feeding the 5,000, Christ had sent the disciples out upon the Sea of Galilee. Being Omniscient, He would have known that they were going to encounter a horrific storm. He also knew what He was going to do. Christ permitted them to endure this storm for quite some time. He does not come to them until ‘the fourth watch of the night,’ which would have been between three and six am. When Christ does appear, He does so miraculously. He comes to them, ‘walking on the sea.’ This was the time in which they were most in need of Him. It was after they had endured much, were most weary, and most likely to be at the end of themselves. So it is with us. We may be exactly where Christ has sent us. We have not resisted His will. We have, in the course of obeying Him encountered much hardship. Our little boat has been tossed up and down. The waves have crashed over us. The wind has buffeted us. We have despaired even of life itself, and perhaps even wondered if we would not be better off to sleep forever in the deep. It is then that Christ appears to us. He understands all our fears. He comes miraculously to us in the hour of our greatest need. He has never failed to appear at the appropriate moment. ‘The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes. That soul, tho’ all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.’

Our Gracious Master and Our God, we praise Your Holy Name,
that You are Good, and that You meet us at our point of need.
We thank You that You come to us, when our circumstances are most distressing,
and bring us peace by the overwhelming sense of Your Presence.

Tomm Tice

Where the Bush is Burning