Timing is Everything

In reading John 6:16-21 I was reminded of a time when I was a child and my family and I were at a large park.  I can remember my Dad going to get our car and it seemed to my childlike mind that he was taking a really long time and I got this big idea to go look for him.  I slipped away from my Mom and family and went in search of Dad only to find myself lost.  When my parents found me, boy was I in trouble.  

In John 6, Jesus had just finished miraculously feeding the crowds of people from a young boy's lunch.  Wow!  5000+ people eating from a few loaves of bread and some fish and leftovers!  After this we are told "When Jesus saw that they were ready to force Him to be their king, He slipped away into the hills by Himself."  John 6:15

I imagine the disciples did not know what to do now.  So they waited.  Can you imagine the conversation between them?  I mean they just witnessed a major, large scale miracle and now they were left to wait for their leader.  And the day dragged into evening, darkness fell and still no Jesus?  Where was He?  What was happening now? In Mark 6:45-46  we see Jesus give instructions.   45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. So the disciples finally decided to get in the boat and head to Capernaum.  Like me, they took it upon themselves to go find the head of their group.  They had their own plan and their own timing to catch up with Jesus.  

And what happened?  As they rowed to Capernaum a mighty gale swooped in on the Sea of Galilee.  Rough seas soon surrounded them and they tried desperately to row to safety.  But here He comes.  Walking on water toward them !  Who was this walking across the turbulent seas as if on a smooth road into town toward them---defying the laws of nature and all things sane?  

Jesus called out to them, "Don't be afraid.  I am here!"  John 6:20  I'm sure as I child, in the terror of being lost and separated from my family, when I heard my parents call my name and saw their open arms I felt overwhelming comfort and relief.  I am sure the disciples felt the same way as I did...safe, relieved and loved.  In verse 21 we are told, "Then they were eager to let Him in the boat."  

So often we get ahead of our Lord.  Or drag behind.  We take things into our own hands only to find ourselves in a boatload of trouble.  We only need to look back to the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar to see this played out in the Bible and in the world today.  To this day the animosity between the sons of Sarah from Isaac, and the sons of Hagar through Ishmael continues to fester and create chaos throughout the world.  We continue to see wars and consequences from the actions of this ancient couple.  We see it in our own lives when we fail to wait on the Lord.  Finances suffer, we get into wrong relationships....we end up on the stormy seas of life desperately trying to fix things on our own.  

But like in the case of the disciples, Jesus will come and Jesus is here.  He will not leave us nor forsake us and He will  make our waves go calm, and safely bring us to the other side of our problem.  Yes, it may take some time of desperation, but He will never let us sink or drown.  In Isaiah 43:2 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Bad choices, going ahead of God may bring difficulties, but God doesn't desert us.  He teaches us, and comes to us and carries us to safety once again.  We learn to wait on His timing.  Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  These times of waiting are not times when we need to be fretting about what to do next, but a time when we should be resting in the Presence of our Lord, renewing our strength, restoring our energy and refixing our mind on Him so we can be ready to soar with Him.  

Lord, we are an impatient lot.  And we have so many big ideas and solutions.  We seek the, "Let's do it now!" solutions and see through very human eyes, very limited eyes.  Lord, teach us to wait on You.  Teach us to do what You say and keep doing it until we hear the next step from You.  Show us how to be still when we need to and renew our minds and strength as we wait on You.  Thank You that even when we get ahead of You, You come to save us.  Thank You that Your love is greater than our mistakes and impatience.  Let even those things bring You glory and show Your power.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen