John 6:16-21 describes an event that took place after Jesus fed the multitudes when He withdrew from the crowds to be alone in prayer. And when you include the additional information supplied in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, it illustrates some very important principles for anyone desiring divine guidance.
It says that around sunset, Jesus told the Disciples to get into a boat and sail in the direction of the town of Capernaum which wasn’t very far away along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. And at first, they probably just hugged the coastline assuming Jesus would catch up to them on foot. But by nightfall, they still hadn’t seen Him, and a powerful storm came up which they battled all night while it forced them more than three miles out into the middle of the lake.
But we’re told that Jesus was watching them the whole time. And suddenly, when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, there He was, drawing near to them, walking on the wind-whipped waves, assuring them everything would be OK as He got into the boat with them. And immediately after that, the storm miraculously ceased, and they found themselves at the “land where they were going.” Only…it wasn’t Capernaum. It was Gennesaret.
Why the storm? Why the change in destination? Well, let’s talk about it.
Most of us deeply desire to live our lives in obedience to God’s will. We want to follow the path He’s laid out for us. But much of the time we struggle to know what that is, primarily because we’re looking for the wrong things.
We’re looking for a route that takes us along the path of least resistance. We don’t want to face any obstacles, uphill climbs, or bad weather. But those are often the very things God needs to lead us through in order for His will to be fulfilled in our lives. The value of the personal and spiritual growth that results is priceless.
We also want to know where the road will take us before agreeing to set out on the journey. But it doesn’t work that way. God’s will is based on His eternal perspective, knowledge, and wisdom which are so much higher than our own, we don’t even have the frame of reference to comprehend that information. And if we could, we would be tempted to plot our own course and leave Him out of the picture altogether, which brings me to the bigger point. With God, it’s all about the journey, not the destination. The relationship, dependence, and faith we develop along the way are His priorities.
Here are some things to consider regarding divine guidance:
In the same way that Jesus sent the Disciples TOWARD or in the direction of Capernaum, it almost always begins with less clarity about the ultimate destination than you want. God can usually only give us enough of a glimpse to get us pointed in the right direction. But that’s really all we need, because…
What’s important is that we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, taking one step or one oar stroke at a time. Remember, it's all about the journey. And…
Don’t panic or lose heart when a storm comes up and you wonder why Jesus doesn’t seem to be coming to your rescue. Just as He SAW the Disciples in the darkness, His eye is on you too. And He will make His presence known, stepping into your boat right on time, stilling the storm, and delivering you safely to shore.