JESUS’ PRESENCE AND PRAYERS ARE WITH US IN TIMES OF PROBLEMS

SCRIPTURE:

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.” (Matthew 14:22—34 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

Matthew 8 has a similar situation in which Jesus went into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came and the wind and the wave pounded on their boat. But Jesus was sleeping while all the wind and the waves were wrecking fear into the heart of the disciples.

Here they face a similar situation. However, Jesus did not go into the boat, but he get the disciples to go into the boat by themselves and he stayed behind to dismiss the crowd. After he dismissed the crowd, he then went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Jesus was there alone. The boat was already a considerable distance from the land, being buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

These two scenarios started out, one with Jesus physically present on the boat, and the other Jesus on a mountain side. These two scenarios reminded me of a couple of things. Firstly, It reminded me that I must never forget the PROBLEMS is a part of life. Problems comes in like the wind that blows constantly whether I see it on the trees or not. Problems is a constant like the waves of the sea that never stops coming. I must understand and accept that problems are going to be buffeting my life whether I am a believer or not.

Secondly, I am reminded that Jesus PRESENCE whether I feel him or not in the times of my problems is a constant thing in my life. Jesus, sees the waves and the wind that beat against my life. He is constantly aware of what is happening in my life. The question I asked myself is, Am I aware of his PRESENCE or am I being battered and buffeted with my problems that I have become un-aware of His constant PRESENCE?

The apostle Peter seem to experience this phenomenon. He sees Christ in the waves on the water, while the wind is blowing, but he was made more aware of the elements rather than the PRESENCE of Christ who called him to join him in the water.

Thirdly, I have been made aware that when Christ was on the side of a mountain, he was PRAYING for his disciples. He saw them from a distance and He prayed for them. I must never forget that Jesus prayers and intercession on my behalf is always constant, consistent, and keeps covering me in times of troubles. As my problems are constant as the winds and the waves, Jesus prayers are so much more in its covering of me from all the challenges that I face.

APPLICATION:

I will continue to trust Jesus’s PRESENCE AND PRAYERS covering me from all the PROBLEMS that assails my life constantly. I trust in Jesus constant covering of my life daily. I embrace Jesus presence and will continue to call to mind that I am never left alone to face the winds and the waves that buffeted my journey.

PRAYER:

I am grateful for your constant reminder that Your Presence and Prayers are constant in my life. Jesus, I am grateful for the reminders today that you never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for reminding me that the presence of problems does not mean that you are absent in my life. Thank you for the assurance of your presence daily and for covering my life with your prayers. Amen!