This year has been a mixture of emotions. God knows all of what we're experience, feeling, and thinking.
PRAY and ask God to give you peace deep in your soul based on His presence deep in your life as you read His Word.
REFLECT
The sadness of John's gruesome death must have shocked and overwhelmed his disciples. How did if affect Jesus? Did His retreating into solitude stem directly from feelings of sadness? Jesus was fully human after all and it's very possible. And should Jesus have stopped it? I mean, didn't John deserve better treatment? Jesus addresses people's needs, because "he had compassion on them" (14). Then He feeds the five thousand from the meager five loaves and two fish, and after that He walks on water and even allows Peter to experience that great power. And the people of Gennesaret experienced great power as well. So what about John? God sets the time and works out His plan. When suffering for sin is involved, He suffers along with us. When overcoming providence comes, Jesus takes glory in providing for us. When doubt comes, He lifts us up above the wind and waves.
RESPOND
John's death, the sickness, the hunger, Peter's fear - all of these remind us that we are not in heaven and that earth has fallen from perfection and into corruption. John will be resurrected into heaven. Jesus can and will complete His work. We are in the midst of it. Take a step out of the comfort zone of the boat, fix your eyes on Jesus, and walk to and with Him. In the roller coaster ride of emotions in 2020, Jesus knows our sufferings and His ministry reveals God's desire to bring us into a fuller life with Him.
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