When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. ~Mark 6:48
Faith is a choice. It’s a choice between two different ways of living. With God or without. Whether we do life with God or without, we still have to cross the sea. We still have to row, sometimes against the wind. It’s not so much about what we do as it is about the way we do it. Faith is a choice to accept Jesus and his ways or not.
Mark wrote that Jesus intended to pass by his disciples as they were straining against the adverse wind. When they cried out in fear, he turned toward them and offered a better way of crossing the sea. Their fear was not towards the wind, but towards who they assumed to be a ghost. After all, in their perspective Jesus had left them to face the wind on their own. They didn’t realize that Jesus could or wanted to give real and timely help! Indeed, if they hadn’t cried out, he might have kept on his course.
Jesus is not only able, he wants to help us live life his way. A way of compassion, composure, and that brings peace.
The choice is ours to make. Jesus and his way, or tightening our grip and fighting the headwinds on our own. The former involves some effort on our part. We need to learn Jesus’ way of going about life. We need to learn to pray in a way that shapes our souls in his image, that helps us to respond to interruptions with grace. The former involves some effort. The latter leads to exhaustion and burn out.
Which way will you follow?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNUvZskzemw