During a morning walk the other day, I was struggling with some “stuff”. In those moments, I can feel very alone. In the midst of my angst, my phone binged with a text from my best friend. He shared a photo of the snow they received in Idaho. I shared my turmoil and we texted back and forth. He offered some good practical advice and within minutes I had a path forward. He ended by saying he would be praying for me. 

This incident reminded me of Mark 6:48. In this famous story, Jesus has sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee while he remained to pray. While they were in the middle of the Sea and he was on the shore, it says, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.”

While the rest of the story is absolutely amazing, I don’t want it to eclipse the truth of verse 48. Jesus saw them. The disciple were struggling for their lives on the boat. They must have felt alone and perhaps abandoned. But the reality is they were not alone. Jesus saw them. Jesus saw their struggle. And Jesus acted. 

In that moment Jesus responded with a remarkable display of power as he walked upon the water and calmed the winds. In my moment, Jesus responded with a subtle text from my best friend from over 600 miles away. The results were the same. Rescue!

The disciples were not alone. I was not alone. You are not alone.