The Midnight Hour

It is always exciting when Jesus says to us, "Let us go over to the other side" (Mark 4:35).  To me it's like He's saying, "Come up higher or let's do a new thing, time for change or promotion".  You're excited to see what happens "on the other side" and can't wait to get there.  But in the "middle of the lake" you find yourself "straining at the oars", because the wind and the waves are against you.  The storm is like a hurricane and everything pointing to the fact that you are not going to make it to the other side and fear creeps in.  The disciples found themselves in a few of these tests and so do we.  We shouldn't be surprised when we are about to go higher, that we face a storm that we did not expect. 

The middle is often a place of testing.

I was searching for a specific scripture and was flipping through my Bible slowly trying to find it.  My eyes landed on one that was not the one I was looking for but I felt drawn to it.  I had not highlighted it or underlined it before but I saw it and took it for myself.  I remember praying to the Lord,  "I'm believing this is where I am today and will trust You for it in Jesus' name!"

I felt that I was in the middle of a test and needed desperately to see Him in His Word.  I was watching for Him.  So I had enough hope in my heart this day to take it by force. 

The Bible says that the "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).  I felt afterwards that the Holy Spirit reminded me that this is what I did.

The scripture that I took by force was Deuteronomy 11:31  You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. 

The wind and the waves I was facing sounded like threats that I had made no progress at all.  That my prayers had not moved any mountains and the times I launched in acts of faith were in vain.  In my dark hour I began to cry out, just like the disciples did.

"He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them". (Mark 6:47)

In Mark 6:48, the Bible says that "About the fourth watch of the night (between 3-6am) He came to them, walking on the lake".  To me this is equivalent to saying, He's walking on the very thing that threatened to take them down.  This situation is under His feet!  But then He does something that has always puzzled me.   "He was about to pass by them."  The Amplified version says that "He acted as if He meant to pass by them." 

Why pass by them Lord? 

I now believe that He wanted them to see Him in a whole new way.  Indeed!  "When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost." (Mark 6:49) but I trust that He wanted their faith to rise to a whole new level.  I also want to believe that they were watching and waiting for Him even in their struggle.  Wishing He was there to calm the storm like He had done just a few chapters back.   I think that with each test they progressively became more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly, His Presence and His rest. 

In searching for my one specific scripture, His Word in Deuteronomy 11:31 almost passed me by.  But I was watching and desperate to see Him in His Word for me.  I took hold of His Word with hope and boldness, His very Presence, and immediately I felt His rest.  I took heart!

He is the Word. 

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).

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. (Mark 6:50).

I'm believing that He wants to take us to the other side.  I'm believing promotion is coming, or blessings are on their way.  We are going higher than we have gone.   He wants us to take His Word in to our hearts and to see Him in His promises and be able to say with confidence "this one's mine!"  As we do, we can trust He's in the boat with us and His Presence gives us rest.   I pray that we become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing.  Understanding Him more strongly and clearly, for we have found favor in His sight.  In Jesus' name, Amen!