Day 8 – Point of View

“Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.” Mark 6:47-48a NLT

I know what it feels like to fight against a life-storm to ensure your boat stays afloat. You are so focused on survival that nothing else matters – and in times like these – you feel alone: no one can truly understand the storm you are fighting. Through the mayhem, you might wonder “Why isn’t anyone seeing what I am going through?” Lovely one, Jesus sees.

This account in Mark specifically mentions Jesus seeing that His apostles were in trouble amidst the wind and waves and were struggling to navigate through the storm. He was on land, on the hill, far away from them, yet He SAW. Sometimes we feel like shouting, “God, do You not see what I am fighting against?” We might fail to see Him in the storm, but He sees you.

Remember Hagar in the desert? She also thought she was alone and heard the cries of her starving child and thought they would both die, but God saw her and helped her. From where she called Him El Roi – the God who sees. (Genesis 16:13)

I know you might think you are the only one in your struggles, and I know you might think that it is easy for anyone to tell you that you are not alone, but lovely one, I want to encourage you that no matter where you are and how devastating the storm might be, Jesus sees. He knows. And He is coming.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us once again that You are El Roi, the God who sees us no matter where we are or what we are facing. Just as we cannot hide from Your face, nothing happening in our lives can be hidden from You. There is no tactic the enemy can use to catch You off-guard, for You know these too. Thank You for giving us the opportunities in the storms to struggle (though we don’t like it) and to know that while we are where we are, You, Jesus, see us. Amen.