“…His disciples went down unto the sea,and entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” – John 6:16-18

In my journeys to Israel, one of the most delightful times for me is to sit at twilight on the shores of Galilee. The tranquility is like a dream. You’re almost intoxicated by beauty as the sun sets over the Sea of Galilee. The Golan Heights across the sea from Tiberius turn a rosy color. You can hear birds nesting in the trees. I believe the Sea of Galilee is one of the most beautiful bodies of water on earth. The old rabbis used to say that God created all the other seas, then He created Galilee just for Himself.

It had been a wonderful day. Jesus had been with His disciples, feeding the 5,000. The disciples were full of success and self-confidence when they climbed into their boat that evening. Then it happened. The wind begins to rise. Clouds darken the moon. An angry wind beats the sea with its fists, and the water rises up and slaps the disciples in the face. That Sea of Galilee, quiet as a millpond, now has become dangerous. These seasoned sailors are filled with fear. Then they see Jesus, walking on the water, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” In another gospel He says, “Be of good cheer. It is I.

Are you in a storm? You say, “No, Pastor, I’m not.” Well I’m glad for you. Enjoy the trip. We’re fools if we don’t enjoy the good times of life. But just wait awhile. Sooner or later, you’re going to find yourself in a storm. It may be that God has engineered your storm; if not, He has certainly allowed it because our God is over everything. The first thing you can say when difficulty comes is that God’s providence is over it all. You can say, “I am governed by His providence.”

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