Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬, ‭9‬-‭14‬
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

How do we access the power of God through life’s ups and downs? How do we focus on God’s work and living a life that honors him amid the chaos and challenges living in this world can bring?

We pray. We take time by ourselves with God and pray. I use the Lord’s Prayer, listed here, as a pattern prayer. Jesus told his disciples to use this pattern prayer, when asked how to pray. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me.

I imagine Jesus reflected on each of the components in the Lord’s Prayer for well into the night. He dwelt with God. And as he left he knew exactly what God’s will was and he had confidence to enact it. He saw his disciples on the lake laboring hard against the storm. He could have just taken away the problem or challenge and calmed the storm from the mountain. But instead he used this as a teaching moment, a faith marker.

He walked out to them on the water, but he did not walk directly to them, he almost passed them by. They were not expecting him. They thought he was a ghost, a phantom, a mysterious spiritual force. And so fear from the storm was now compounded by this new threat. They cried out in horror!

But Jesus then revealed himself and came to them. He showed them that he was watching over them and cared for them, even from a distance. And he calmed the storm and comforted them. So why did he allow them to go through the struggle when he could have fixed the problem up front?

I believe he did this to help them grow their faith. We grow our faith mostly through trials. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬) Peter references our new birth into a living hope through Jesus. He references our inheritance waiting for Jesus’ followers in heaven. And he references the faith we have that shields us. Then he says that trials have a purpose and a plan — through trials our faith will become more pure and precious, like gold is when refined by fire. Trials build up our faith, and our relationship to God through Jesus is closer and more powerful — rock solid.

What trials am I experiencing today? Do I see these as God’s way of refining my faith and drawing me to rely on him more? Do I expect him to come, or do I not recognize his presence and let fear overcome me like the disciples did here?

Lord, I want to learn how to be more faithful and to keep my eyes peeled for your presence in trials. Thank you for allowing me to build my faith through them. Thank you also for always watching over me! I love you!